One year of Trump: India yet to be affected by Trump-phobia
It’s a year since Trump was inaugurated and became the latest occupant of the Oval Office. In that period, or what appears like an aeon, he has divided the world into those that are tormented by him and those that tolerate him
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| Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump at the Joint Press Statement, White House, Washington DC, USA (File Photo)(PTI) |
Almost a quarter
century ago, a memoir titled Prozac Nation swept through the United States,
referring to the antidepressant pill that helped beat the blues. Now, we are in
an age of a global bipolar disorder, with the principal cause of that malady
being the 45th President of the United States, Donald J Trump.
It’s a year since
Trump was inaugurated and became the latest occupant of the Oval Office. In
that period, or what appears like an aeon, he has divided the world into those
that are tormented by him and those that tolerate him.
His comments on the
origin nations of some immigrants have placed him into yet another hole, that,
almost certainly he will dig deeper into in the second year of his term. The
complaints from the African Union to El Salvador to Haiti are adding to the
United Nations roster of Trump-phobia. His predecessor Barack Obama was often —
and often justifiably — accused of leading from behind. Trump is leading with
affront.
The unfortunate
consequence of this strategy based on weaponised Twitter is that even when
Trump is supporting the right cause, few want to be seen to be in agreement.
Take, for instance, his administration’s approach to the protests in Iran,
which was worth backing, but many backed away from that, not wanting to be on
any Trump bandwagon. That trend has exhibited itself with North Korea’s missile
rattling, China’s use of trade and investment as a policy battering ram, and
even the partial defunding of the bankrolling of Pakistan’s bad behaviour.
In fact, the US’
closest allies are keeping their distance. From Canada suing America in the WTO
over lumber barriers, to London turning into a no-go zone for him, he has dug a
global hole for America, with or without a prefixed expletive.
India, however, is
within the small group of countries that won’t be as offended by Washington.
From focusing on the Indo-Pacific, to choking Islamabad, there is much for New
Delhi to welcome, even as a looming H-1B logjam is on the backburner, at least
for now.
So far, though, India
has played it smart. Despite the chumminess on the surface between Trump and
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it hasn’t booked a passage on the Trump train.
The vote against moving the capital of Israel to Jerusalem was evidence of this
unwillingness to be railroaded by Washington. That may well be the sane
recourse; not to unhinge itself from the traditional path of caution, even if
the trajectory of closer cooperation with the US is clear.
That makes India an
exception; unlike feelings in the capitals of most countries, where Trump’s
version of going on the offensive is just that.
This has been a time
of strong medicine for the world, prescribed by Trump, and often, dispensed as
bitter pills. And that’s enough to further the mood swings in the age of
Trumphalism.
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