NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new US President Donald Trump with a tweet.
We look forward to working with you closely to take India-US bilateral ties to a new height. @realDonaldTrump
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 9, 2016
"We're going to be best friends," Trump had said during remarks at a Republican Hindu Coalition event. "There isn't going to be any relationship more important to us." He had won over India's right wing organizations with such declarations that were coupled with an anti-Muslim stance.
Hindu outfits even celebrated his birthday and forecast his victory well before the actual results. Indians are favorably inclined towards Trump because of his position on the global jihadi threat and Pakistan's role in harboring terrorism.
India could also benefit from a trade war between the US and China if Trump seeks to bring manufacturing jobs back to the country. India could take advantage of a slowdown in China to enlarge its footprint in the Indian Ocean region.
Deep Concerns Too
But there are also deep concerns in India about his statements on visas to IT workers and immigration. Indian software professionals in Silicon Valley have much to fear if Trump implements his tough stance against immigration.
"IBM laid off 500 workers in Minneapolis and moved their jobs to India and other countries. A Trump administration will stop the jobs from leaving America, and we will stop the jobs from leaving Minnesota," he declared during his campaign.
Indian BPOs and software companies could be facing at huge losses if the US clamps down on outsourcing of jobs to foreign workers. Tough visa rules may also dampen the aspirations of Indian students, casting ties with the US in a negative light.
The likely collapse of Obama's Pivot to Asia may also reduce India's importance in White House's scheme of things in the Indo-Pacific. The confluence of these negative and positive aspects has injected uncertainty into bilateral ties under President Trump.
