Modi's Strategy in Trump's Audience was Less Than Impressive, According to Sanjaya Baru
In a significant move, President Trump announced the temporary suspension of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a decision that immediately and directly benefits Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, who has been charged with wrongdoing under the same act by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The FCPA, enacted in 1977, was designed to prevent US firms from bribing foreign government officials to secure business overseas. However, President Trump argued that the FCPA had handicapped US firms overseas, as most other governments had no such constraints and were bribing foreign officials to secure business for their firms, thereby giving US companies a competitive disadvantage.
During a recent visit to Washington D.C., Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had two interactions with the media, a rarity for him. Despite this, the search results do not provide information about which journalists accompanied Modi on his quickly organized trip. It is worth noting that Indian diplomats kept independent-minded Indian journalists out of the room during the visit, allowing only friendly journalists to attend who engaged in servile behavior and asked inane questions. President Trump, in a notable move, snubbed one Indian journalist during the visit.
The visit also saw the Trump administration reaching out to both China and Russia. President Vladimir Putin has invited both President Trump and President Xi Jinping to Moscow for the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Victory in Europe Day in May. In a reciprocal gesture, President Xi Jinping has invited Mr Putin and Mr Trump to Beijing. The potential for a Trump-Xi-Putin summit could potentially help resolve the wars in Europe and the Middle East, but defining a new world order is unlikely.
The free peoples of post-colonial nations, as well as middle powers like Germany, France, Japan, and potentially India, would want to know their stand in any potential "grand bargain" of a Yalta 2.0. It is important to note that the US is defending its space, Russia is trying to regain its lost space, and China is expanding its space.
On the economic front, President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs that would hit Indian exports and pressured India to further bring down its tariff barriers during his meeting with Prime Minister Modi. However, India has conveyed mixed signals in dealing with a Trump victory, and the servility of the Indian media during the Trump-Modi press meetings may suggest a willingness to bend or crawl.
In conclusion, the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Washington D.C. has brought forth a host of political and economic developments, with implications that extend beyond the US-India relationship. The temporary suspension of the FCPA, the potential for a summit involving the leaders of the US, China, and Russia, and the ongoing trade tensions between the US and India are all issues that warrant close attention.
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