India and Biden: On post-Trump ties

India and Biden: On post-Trump ties

Introduction:

U.S. policy may see more consistency without dependence on personalised summits after the new administration will be taken over by U.S. Democratic Party.

Return of Democratic party and its impacts over India.

U.S.’s return to the Paris climate accord, which would help with its energy transformation.
Return to Iran nuclear negotiations, which will facilitate its regional connectivity ambitions.
He is unlikely to reverse the Afghan pullout and instead might make it a more measured exit.
On China, he is likely to adopt a less confrontational attitude while maintaining a pushback.
Where he will no doubt press a hard nerve is on the issues of human rights, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, given a policy paper his campaign released in June 2020 that quoted him as being “disappointed”.
Mr. Biden’s presidency promises a change in leadership style, with broader powers to advisers and process-driven decisions.
His belief in building up U.S. traditional trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific alliances might be at odds with America’s more transactional trends.
No sudden moves such as Mr. Trump’s withdrawal of India’s GSP export status may be expected, and policy consistency is likely to be preferred to a more personalised summit style.

Conclusion:

Mr. Biden’s stated intention to re-energise the multilateral global order, and to restore the U.S.’s position in “leading not by the example of [its] power, but by the power of example”.
New Delhi should be prepared to hold its own in tough conversations on the sensitive issues like Jammu and Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Source: TH