US elections: India-US ties may not change dramatically even if Trump wins

Bilateral ties

India, too, is watching the polls closely. However, as policy wonks have been writing, India-US ties have grown beyond personalities. And that bilateral ties may not see a major shift even if Trump manages to get the numbers.

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This, despite the fact that Trump has been acerbic on India, especially blaming it for the "theft of jobs" while he made some positive noises towards the end of the campaign, trying to woo the large Indian diaspora by praising Hinduism and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The ties with the US have seen an incremental upswing in the last more than two decades since India opened up its markets. Recently, both Modi and outgoing US President Barack Obama had set an ambitious task of taking the bilateral trade to $300 billion by 2020.

The US has called the bilateral ties as the most defining partnership of the 21st century, with India being designated as the special global partner and a major defense partner.

After the 2008 civilian nuclear deal, the US has also been pushing India's case for the permanent membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and recently signed the defense logistics sharing agreement, the LEMOA, taking the relationship to another level.

The next level

While Clinton is expected to carry on with the policies of the Democratic Party, even if Trump were to come to power, it would be difficult to upset the terms of engagement that both the countries have agreed on.

And that a strong bilateral relationship, with the mammoth trade and defense, and security partnership component would actually work for the benefit of the Republicans as well, for Trump has been speaking on the need for more action against terrorism.

Upsetting the Asia Pivot

And has not been generous towards China even going to the extent of saying that China is using the US as a piggybank to rebuild itself, something India would be pleased with, for the ties with the Eastern neighbour have seen a downward spiral, especially after the latter decided to invest a mammoth $50 billion in China Pakistan Economic Corridor. This has riled India which sees it as a gift to its belligerent Western neighbour.

However, Trump's idea of upsetting the Asia Pivot announced by the Obama regime in 2011, which aimed at more open trade with the Trans-Pacific Pact, an important aspect, could in fact strengthen China. This too, will have a minimal impact on India.

Moreover, the USTR, has been an irritant for India, irrespective of who occupies the White House. Even during a recent visit, the visiting US Trade Representative pointed out how India needs to change the IP laws, something India has been resisting citing the Global TRIPS agreement. Trade being the pivot of US foreign policy, this approach is expected to continue.

Recently, India, Japan and the US have seen close co-operation on security, much to the anguish of China. The latter, as a consequence, could continue with its policy of blocking India's bid to the NSG.

Different foreign policy objectives

Meanwhile, India has resisted being drawn into American adventurism especially in the Middle East - where the latter has made a mess of the situation, first by intervening in Libya and Syria, pulling out at the last moment from backing the former Egyptian President Hosni Mobarak, and then backing Saudis in the war on Yemen. And Afghanistan, where India continues its developmental support, while not being lead into sending its troops on the ground.

Even when US imposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, India had found a way to deal with the important Middle Eastern power, which is key to India's energy security and strategic interests. The outreach to these Islamic countries has only increased despite the BJP being in power.

Trump's isolationist policies, where he talks of pulling out of Syria and other theatres of war, could ensure more stability, and elbow room for countries like India to pursue their foreign policy objectives independently.

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