Former US President Donald Trump and current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are politicians from different countries in the world. But in many respects they have striking similarities. Both have unusual popularity alongside far-right propaganda, opposition to the media, religious supremacy and opposition to immigration.
The last meeting between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi took place in 2020 when he was president. Both introduced each other as ‘friends’ at various times. Modi and Trump were supposed to meet during his visit to the United States to attend a UN session. But they did not meet. BBC news.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned from the United States. He met US President Joe Biden during this visit. Participated in the Quad (four-nation axis) conference, addressed the United Nations, and held meetings with the heads of state of several countries.
But the Indian Prime Minister stayed away from the domestic politics of the United States.
His US tour schedule included several events. He met the Indian community living in Philadelphia and New York. President Joe Biden welcomed Narendra Modi at his residence in Delaware.
Many ancient Indian artefacts have been returned to India by the US.
Meanwhile, Modi also participated in the meeting of the ‘Quad Leaders’. At the United Nations, he spoke about the need to ‘reform global institutions for world peace and development’.
Modi also met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, ahead of Modi’s visit, US presidential candidate Donald Trump said that the Indian Prime Minister will meet him. However, this meeting did not happen. But the question is why?
What did Donald Trump say about the meeting?
Before Modi arrived in the United States, the former US president and the candidate of the Republican Party in this year’s presidential election, Donald Trump, claimed that the Prime Minister of India would meet him.
On the other hand, the press briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs before his (Modi’s) US visit raised questions about the meeting. At that time Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that no decision has been taken yet.
In other words, the Foreign Secretary has neither ‘confirmed’ nor ‘denied’ the meeting between Trump and Modi.
Meanwhile, there was intense speculation that Donald Trump might reach the program that Prime Minister Modi had to meet the Indian community living in the United States in New York City or Long Island. It didn’t happen though.
Incidentally, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US in 2019, he invited Trump to the ‘Howdy Modi’ rally in Houston. A large number of people from the Indian community gathered in this program.
Trump again visited India in February 2020. More than one lakh people gathered in Ahmedabad to welcome him.
The former President of the United States and the Prime Minister of India have addressed each other as friends.
But why didn’t they meet, especially when Donald Trump said so?
Analysts see PM Modi’s decision not to meet Trump as a ‘strategic move’ despite Trump’s public statements.
University of Delaware professor and international relations expert. Muktadar Khan felt that if Modi had met Trump in the election climate in the US and supported his election campaign or if their meeting was seen as Trump’s support, then it would be ‘stupid’.
According to Professor Swasti Rao, an expert in international affairs, PM Modi would have to meet both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris if he had to meet. It would not have been diplomatically ‘correct’ to meet anyone.
Why did not meet?
International relations expert Ravinder Sachdev also thinks that India or any other country in the world cannot support any one side in the internal politics of different countries.
Sachdev explained that even if Narendra Modi had wanted to meet Donald Trump, it would not have been possible. Not only did he meet Trump, he also met Kamala Harris. It may not have been possible to secure a meeting with the two leaders. Maybe that’s why Trump and Modi didn’t meet.
But the question is why did Trump speak publicly about the meeting?
It is also possible that Indian diplomats tried to arrange meetings with both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, says Sachdev. Perhaps that is why Trump publicly said he would meet Modi. Although that meeting was not possible.
Muktadar Khan, however, took a different view. He said Donald Trump had only once publicly said he would meet Modi, though the meeting was not scheduled.
However, it would not be correct to say that Prime Minister Modi has ‘ignored’ Donald Trump or ‘distanced himself’ from the non-implementation of this meeting. Rather, the situation and context were not right for the two leaders to meet in the current climate.
The presidential election is going to be held in the United States in November. Donald Trump is again running as the presidential candidate from the Republican Party and Kamala Harris is the candidate from the Democratic Party.
US presidential election
Election campaigning in the United States is now in full swing with the upcoming presidential election in mind. According to analysts, the competition is quite tough at the moment. US President Joe Biden withdrew from the election battle a few days ago. The two main rivals, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, are going to have a tough fight.
Muktadar Khan says, ‘Who will win this election will be decided by a very small margin in the elections in the United States. In this situation, if Modi meets Trump and for some reason he cannot meet Kamla Harris, then it will not be good for Modi.
He said, ‘I think Kamala Harris may not have agreed to meet Narendra Modi. And because Kamala Harris refused to meet, Modi’s team may have canceled the meeting with Trump.
Incidentally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the then US President Donald Trump on his visit to the US in 2019 and said, ‘Abki Bar Trump Sarkar’. It didn’t happen though. Donald Trump lost the next presidential election.
India had to struggle to bring the relationship in the right direction with the Democratic government led by President Joe Biden in the US.
Analysts also believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advisers may have advised him that it would not be appropriate to meet Donald Trump or any of the candidates in the current US election climate.
Changes in Indian diplomacy
India’s diplomacy has changed somewhat in the last few years. Narendra Modi also held a meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in the United States. Analysts consider this meeting as a special signal.
Sachdev feels that India has sent a clear message about the Ukraine crisis. The message is that there is only one solution to this crisis – the war must stop.
Professor Swasti Rao says, India may be seen as a traditional friend of Russia but India also understands its own interests and sees its own interests in resolving the Ukraine crisis.
This is why Modi did not hesitate to meet Zelensky. He wants to send a clear message that India wants the war to stop.’
Experts explain that India has certain needs of its own which are met by Western countries. India is dependent on the West for its defense and other needs.
In such a situation, even if India plays an important role in resolving the Russia-Ukraine war, it will not stand by any side.
Analysts also feel that there is a “diplomatic and strategic” need for India to maintain good relations with the US at this time.
Professor Muktadar Khan says, ‘Besides the geo-political situation, China’s rise is behind the strengthening of India-US relations. As long as China’s policy of aggression continues, it is very important for India to strengthen its relationship with America.
Muktadar Khan also highlighted another significant aspect in this context. He explained that China is showing an aggressive attitude in the industrial sector. They are increasing production capacity and subsidizing companies. As long as China is challenging the US economically, India is also very important to them (the US).
Professor Rao believes that if Russia leans more towards China, it will become more important for India to strengthen its ties with the US and the West.
