The relationship between the USA and India in the current period is in an extensive and expanding state. Both countries are trying to improve their relationship in terms of culture, strategies, military, and economy. Their current relationship is in the phase of implementing confidence-building measures to overcome the legacy of trust deficit. Such a condition has occurred because of US foreign policies as well as the multiple instances of technology denial.
In the year 2008, the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement was signed which focused on the various areas of cooperation. Currently, the relationship is getting better in fields like growth in India’s economy, Indian and American industries, Information and communication technologies, engineering and medical sectors, robust cooperation on counter-terrorism, the deterioration of US-Pakistan relations, etc.
In October 2018, India agreed to buy the S-400 defense system from Russia which was hugely opposed by the US Government. They have threatened India over this sanction. Also, the USA has threatened India after they bought oil from Iran during 2008 and 2009. They imported nearly 16.8% of crude oil which was highly opposed by President Barack Obama. The president of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) reported that the relationship of India and the USA will not go further if the sanctions continue as the USA are being untrustworthy in the eyes of India.
Donald Trump in India
President Trump will be landing in Ahmedabad at around noon on February 24. Ahmedabad is the home city of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is going to be an event in Gujrat named “Namaste Modi”. After the event, he will be heading to Agra on the same day. He is going for a visit to Taj Mahal, Agra where he is supposed to be handed a silver key weighing
600 grams by the city administration. A day prior to the visit, a special aircraft will be landed at Jaipur International Airport for some security reasons. President Trump is supposed to visit New Delhi the next day, on February 25. The same day he will be going back to Washington DC. This drift that the trip will just be of 2 days.
Who along with Donald Trump is going for the visit?
President Donald Trump isn’t going alone. The First Lady Melania Trump will also be alongside Donald Trump. Besides, his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner will also join them. Apart from the Trump family, a galaxy of top officials will accompany Donald Trump in the visit to India. However, the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will not be amongst the people who are going for the visit. The US Trade Representative had canceled his previous trip to India as well.
Purpose of the visit:
The major purpose of the visit is for the agreement on a trade package as a precursor to a major trade deal. This visit also carries the aim of providing an opportunity to improve the bilateral relationship, strengthen the ties, and also deepen the commitment to Indo-Pacific.
How is the preparation going on in India?
After the confirmation of Donald Trump’s state visit to India, the Agra government immediately started a campaign of cleaning up the Yamuna River. The respected authorities are working hard to remove the stagnant present in the polluted river. It is also estimated that more than 100,000
people will attend the event and perform a roadshow to welcome Donald Trump in Ahmedabad.
Even Mumbai City is welcoming Donald Trump. It has been seen that students have hung various paintings of the president and the first lady showing their love and support. Along with that, the walls of the city in Agra from the airport to the Taj Mahal has been covered with the paintings of Donald Trump. Keeping all these excitements aside, it will be sad to know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi won’t be present at Ahmedabad to welcome Donald Trump as well as the other officials.
Who will welcome him in India?
As stated above, Prime Minister Narendra Modi won’t be present at Ahmedabad to welcome Donald Trump as well as the other officials. A special reception committee named “Swagat Samiti” has been formed that will represent the whole nation in welcoming the president along with the first lady. This special committee will be led by the mayor of Ahmedabad Bijal Patel.
Previous state visit to India by other presidents:
Donald Trump is going to be the seventh president who will visit India this week.
The first-ever US president to visit India was Dwight D. Eisenhower. He visited India from December 9 until December 14 in the year 1959. There were huge problems in the USA as people were thinking India was getting closer to the Soviet Union. After Eisenhower’s visit to India, these problems were solved automatically.
Richard M. Nixon visited India from July 13 until August 1 in the year 1969. The main aim of the visit was to improve his relationship with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi which was not going so well.
The next US president to visit India was Jimmy Carter on January 1 and stayed until January 3 in the year 1978. The main purpose of the visit was to convince Prime Minister Moraji Desai to end his nuclear ambitions. But, he wasn’t able to do so.
The next visit took place 12 years later when William J. Clinton (Bill Clinton) announced his visit to India Campaign for six days; from March 19 to March 25 in the year 2000. The main purpose was to improve the relationship between the two countries.
George W. Bush became the fifth president to visit India from March 1 until March 3 in the year 2006. The major aim of the visit was to finalize a nuclear landmark deal.
Barrack Obama visited India twice. His first visit was from November 6 until November 9 in the year 2010. He also made a visit from January 24 until January 27 in the year 2015. In the year 2015, Barack Obama visited India as a chief guest and he commented positively on India’s religious freedom. In the case of the current president Donald Trump, he has negative views regarding India’s religious freedom. So, this might change after his visit to India.
What will be the future pros and cons?
Pros:
The relationship between the USA and India will further improve.
If the trade deal agreement will be signed, it is likely to prosper.
The issues regarding Religious Freedom will be solved.
Cons:
India’s good relationship with Russia will most likely be degraded.
China and Pakistan might create problems after the visit.
If the trade deal agreement won’t be signed, it might create problems in the relationship between the two countries.
What else can be seen during Donald Trump’s visit:
A famous real estate broker of India named Bussa Krishna had previously dreamt of meeting Donald Trump. He is most likely to meet Trump which will be his dream-come-true lifetime achievement. He is a huge fan of Donald Trump and even worships him like a God.
The first lady Melania Trump will be visiting a Delhi government school on February 25 but will not be accompanied by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia.
According to some of the reports, Donald Trump’s car ‘The Beast’ has already arrived in India.
President Donald Trump will be staying at Chanakya. The security arrangement has been really good and even the ex-presidents have given positive comments about the services provided by Chanakya. Previously, George Bush and Barack Obama also have stayed there.
Taj Mahal will be closed for the local people on February 24 and 25 because of the visit of Donald Trump.
Many cars and helicopters have been seen throughout Ahmedabad and New Delhi for many security reasons.
Ahead Of India Visit, Donald Trump Shares Video Of Himself As “Baahubali”
Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA! https://t.co/1jdk3AW6fG
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2020
