Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India TV.
Donald Trump recorded a historic victory in the presidential election. He defeated Kamala Harris by a wide margin. This has happened in the United States after 132 years, when a former president won the presidential election again after losing it once. Trump is the second president in US history to achieve this feat. The important thing is that even in this indecisive situation, Trump won a unilateral victory. After the results came in, Trump addressed supporters alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance and his family members. Trump said he will work for the betterment of America non-stop and tirelessly for the next four years. Trump said the next four years will be golden for the United States. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first congratulated Trump on social media and then congratulated him on his victory over the phone. According to sources, during the phone conversation, Trump described India as “a wonderful country” and Modi as “a wonderful leader” who is “loved by people around the world.”
The question is: what effect will the change of power in the United States have on our country and our neighboring countries? Will the close friendship between Modi and Trump help further strengthen relations between the two countries? Trump is a businessman and a tremendous negotiator. Will Trump’s arrival affect India’s trade? Trump is in favor of adopting a strict policy regarding those entering the United States. Will this affect Indians going to the United States?
Trump’s return to power is considered the most powerful comeback in American political history. After losing the election to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump faced many difficulties one after another. The supporters and great leaders of the Republican Party had abandoned Trump, but Trump did not accept defeat and once again became America’s Big Boss. Over the past four years, Trump faced many political and judicial challenges. In the end, he defeated all challenges and recorded a historic victory. This victory has put the United States in a strong position. Now there is no uncertainty about the government.
The effect of Trump’s victory will be visible throughout the world system. Trump will try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. India’s role can be important in this. In recent months, Narendra Modi has tried to find a path to peace by meeting Putin three times and Zelensky twice. Trump’s victory will also affect relations between the Arab world and Israel. Trump’s victory can be seen in two ways in the context of India. Firstly, regarding the relationship between Trump and Modi. Evidently, Modi’s relationship with Trump is more personal and older than that of Kamala Harris. They both know and understand each other well. Trump’s style of diplomacy is based on the person. He emphasizes personal relationships and Trump has said that Narendra Modi is his friend and a strong leader. India will benefit from this way of thinking.
The second parameter is India’s diplomatic needs. China has always been challenging India. Now the effect of friendship between Trump and Modi will be visible here. Justin Trudeau in Canada has become a new problem for India. He supports Khalistanis. The Biden administration appeared to be supporting Canada. Now these equations will also change and India will become stronger in this matter.
Above all, Trump said that I am a fan of India and a fan of Hindus. If I win, Indians will have a true friend in the White House. No American president has said such a thing in the last 200 years, and its impact will be visible. Trump had given a statement in which he said: “I am a big fan of Hindus and I am also a big fan of India. I want to start by saying from the beginning that if I am elected President, I will have a true friend of the Indian community and Hindus in the White House. I guarantee it.”
bangladesh
Trump had shown similar passion for Bangladeshi Hindus who were victims of violence. So there is no doubt that Trump’s victory in the United States will also affect India’s neighbors, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Some effects began to become visible today. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Trump on his victory.
Sheikh Hasina is currently in Delhi. He said he is willing to work together with Trump. As the president of the Awami League, this statement by Sheikh Hasina has great significance. Because currently there is an interim government of Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh. Yunus is close to the Clinton family. With the help of the Biden administration, he staged a coup in Bangladesh and became head of the interim government. But Trump’s stance on Bangladesh is very clear.
Trump strongly condemned the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh in a tweet on Diwali. Trump had written that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were ignoring Hindus around the world, but he will not let this happen. Trump promised that if he becomes president, he will work to protect Hindus and stop forced conversions. Therefore, Trump’s victory has raised alarm bells among fundamentalists in Bangladesh. It is in this context that Sheikh Hasina’s statement needs to be understood.
Pakistan
As far as Pakistan is concerned, Imran Khan’s supporters are very happy with Trump’s victory, they are celebrating and expressing hope that Trump will get Imran Khan released from jail. But Trump, sitting with Imran Khan, had said that terrorists are given shelter in Pakistan and he will eliminate these bases of terrorism. In his previous term, Trump had taken a tough stance regarding terrorist bases in Pakistan. $24 billion in aid to Pakistan was suspended.
Porcelain
China, India’s third neighbor, is also worried about Trump’s victory. In his last term, Trump had started a trade war with China. Heavy customs duties were imposed on goods imported from China. Repression against Chinese companies was toughened. This affected the businesses of both countries. That is why there was tension in China’s attitude towards Trump’s return. After the results were known, China reacted strongly. A spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry said that no matter who becomes president in the United States, China will continue its old policy and would like there to be a sense of mutual respect.
Europe Middle East
The leaders of European countries are also confused by Trump’s victory. Although the politicians of European countries congratulated Trump, the reality is that the leaders of European countries are somewhat upset with Trump’s victory. In his last term, Trump had said that Europe should take responsibility for its own security. How long will the United States bear its burden? He also asked for the expenses of American soldiers stationed in Germany. So now, if the United States’ position changes, if Trump returns to his old policy, then all the strategic equations in the world could be altered. This is what worries European leaders.
Europe is worried about the war in Ukraine. Trump continued to criticize the war in Ukraine throughout his election campaign. He kept saying that this is a useless war and after becoming president he will end this war in one day. Trump repeated the same thing in his victory speech. He said he won the election not to fight the war but to stop it. Russian President Putin did not congratulate Trump on his victory, but the Kremlin said Russia will decide its stance only after seeing Trump’s policy and intentions.
But Iran is definitely in shock. When news came that Trump had won the election, the Iranian currency, the rial, fell sharply. Trump’s victory has increased the threat to Iran because Trump has been following a very strict policy towards Iran. In the last term, Trump had separated the United States from the Iran nuclear deal. He had imposed new sanctions on Iran and threatened to bomb Iran. This time there is a war in Gaza. Israel is fighting a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In such a situation, there is a possibility for the United States to do something directly.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a lot to say about the war. S Jaishankar said he does not believe the US will now become a party to any war. Rather it may be the opposite. Under the Trump administration, the United States can withdraw its forces from all areas of the world. The Secretary of State said the United States had begun to withdraw from each other’s conflicts during the Barack Obama era, Biden withdrew the US military from Afghanistan and Trump openly says he will not participate in any war. Jaishankar is right that the US does not want to get involved in any new conflict. All those countries in the world that are involved in one war or another understand this.
Watch: ‘Aaj Ki Baat, Rajat Sharma Sath’ Full Episode of November 6, 2024
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