INDIA’S TIES WITH US UNDER BIDEN
India exports far more to the US than it imports, putting the bilateral trade deficit at over US$45 billion in New Delhi’s favour.
Experts agreed that the last four years of Biden’s presidency have brought more stability on the trade and strategic front. He embraced New Delhi wholeheartedly, hosting Modi on his first state visit to the US this year.
During Biden’s tenure, both countries also settled outstanding trade disputes, with the US beginning to share critical technology with India to manufacture defence hardware.
Biden’s key aim was to help equip India to take on China in the region, said analysts. They added this was why he also prioritised strengthening the QUAD – a diplomatic grouping of Australia, Japan, India and the US.
“Biden has worked pretty systematically to build institutional groups, to create a better balance (in the region),” said Meera Shanker, who served as India’s ambassador to the US in 2009.
She added that should Trump win the election, it would be best that he at least maintains the status quo.
“But if he decides to disrupt the functioning of (the alliances and processes), then it would be a fairly unstable situation,” she noted.
Analysts have said that Trump may not continue the Biden administration’s security strategy in the region, although he is expected to be harder on China on trade issues.
