Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
Donald Trump registered a historic victory in the presidential elections. Defeated Kamala Harris by a large margin. This has happened in America after 132 years when a former President has won the Presidential election again after losing the election once. Trump is the second president in American history to accomplish this feat. The big thing is that even in swing status, Trump got a one-sided victory. After the results came, Trump addressed supporters along with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and family members. Trump said, he will work for the betterment of America without stopping and tirelessly for the next four years. Trump said that the coming four years will be golden for America. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first congratulated Trump on social media and then congratulated Trump on his victory over telephone. 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 all over the world.”
The question is, what effect will the change of power in America have on our country and our neighboring countries? Will the close friendship between Modi and Trump help in further strengthening the relations between the two countries? Trump is a businessman and a tremendous dealmaker. Will Trump’s arrival affect India’s trade? Trump is an advocate of making a strict policy regarding those entering America. Will this affect Indians going to America?
Trump’s return to power is being seen as the most powerful comeback in America’s political history. After losing the election to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump faced many difficulties one after another. Supporters and big leaders of the Republican Party had abandoned Trump, but Trump did not accept defeat and once again became the Big Boss of America. In the last four years, Trump faced many political and court challenges. In the end, he defeated all the challenges and registered a historic victory. This victory has put America in a strong position. Now there is no uncertainty about the government.
The effect of Trump’s victory will be visible on the entire world system. Trump will try to end the Russia-Ukraine war. India’s role can be important in this. In the last few months, Narendra Modi has tried to find a path to peace by meeting Putin thrice and Zelensky twice. Trump’s victory will also affect the relations between the Arab world and Israel. In the context of India, Trump’s victory can be seen in two ways. Firstly, in terms of the relationship between Trump and Modi. Obviously, Modi’s relationship with Trump is more personal and older than that of Kamala Harris. Both know and understand each other well. Trump’s style of diplomacy is person-based. He emphasizes on personal relationships and Trump has said that Narendra Modi is his friend and a strong leader. India will benefit from this thinking.
The second parameter is India’s diplomatic needs. China has always been challenging India. Now the effect of the 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, Hindus 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 had said, “I am a big fan of Hindus and I am also a big fan of India. I want to start by saying right off the bat 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 the Hindus of Bangladesh who were victims of violence. That is why there is no doubt that Trump’s victory in America will also affect India’s neighbors Pakistan and Bangladesh. Some effect started becoming visible today itself. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Trump on his victory.
Sheikh Hasina is currently in Delhi. He said that he is ready to work together with Trump. As the President of Awami League, this statement of Sheikh Hasina has great significance. Because at present 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 carried out a coup in Bangladesh and became the head of the interim government. But, Trump’s stance regarding Bangladesh is very clear.
Trump had strongly condemned the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh by tweeting on the day of Diwali. Trump had written that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ignored 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 set off alarm bells for fundamentalists in Bangladesh. It is in this background 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 tenure, Trump had taken a tough stance regarding terrorist bases in Pakistan. Aid worth 24 billion dollars to Pakistan was stopped.
China
India’s third neighbor China is also worried about Trump’s victory. In his last term, Trump had started a trade war with China. Heavy custom duty was imposed on goods imported from China. The clampdown on Chinese companies was tightened. This affected the business of both the countries. That is why there was tension in China’s attitude upon Trump’s return. After the results came, China gave a strong reaction. A spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry said that no matter who becomes president in America, China will continue with its old policy and would like there to be a sense of mutual respect.
Europe Middle East
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 America bear their burden? He also asked for the expenses of American soldiers stationed in Germany. That is why now if America’s stance changes, if Trump returns to his old policy, then all the strategic equations of the world can get disturbed. This is what European leaders are worried about.
Europe is concerned about the Ukraine war. Trump continued to criticize the Ukraine war throughout his election campaign. He kept saying that this is a useless war and that if he becomes President, he will end this war in one day. Trump repeated the same thing in his victory speech. He said that he won the elections not to fight the war but to stop the war. Russian President Putin did not congratulate Trump on his victory, but the Kremlin said that Russia will decide its stand only after seeing Trump’s policy and intentions.
But Iran is definitely in shock. When the news of Trump winning the election came, Iran’s currency Rial fell drastically. Trump’s victory has increased the threat to Iran because Trump has been following a very strict policy regarding Iran. In the last term, Trump had separated America from the nuclear deal with Iran. Had imposed new sanctions on Iran and threatened to bomb Iran. This time there is a war going on in Gaza. Israel is fighting a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In such a situation, there is a possibility that America may do something directly.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said a big thing about the war. S Jaishankar said that he does not think that America will now become a part of any war. Rather, it may be the opposite. Under Trump’s rule, America can withdraw its forces from all areas of the world. The Foreign Minister said that America had started withdrawing from others’ conflicts during the era of Barack Obama, Biden withdrew the American army from Afghanistan and Trump openly says that he will not participate in any war. Jaishankar is right that America does not want to get involved in any new conflict. All those countries of the world who are embroiled in some war or the other understand this.
Watch: ‘Aaj Ki Baat, Rajat Sharma Sath’ full episode of November 06, 2024
