Global leaders are watching as US President Donald Trump is giving shape to his administration and its view of the world. Within days of taking charge, Trump has already reversed many of the decisions of the Biden administration. For India, there are two major concerns. One is immigration and Trump’s views on the H1B work visa which helps thousands of Indians to work in the US. Two, tariffs, with Trump already stating that he will impose tariffs on India and other BRICS nations.

After taking oath as the 47th president of the US, Trump made it clear that he will impose 100 per cent tariffs on countries of the BRICS bloc, of which India is a key partner, if they take any steps to replace the US dollar. “If the BRICS nations want to do that, that’s okay, but we’re going to put at least a 100 per cent tariff on the business they do with the United States. They have a 100 per cent tariff if they so much as even think,” he said. His comments have made many in the Indian policy circuit worried already.

As rumours and reports swirl, sources in diplomatic circles said that an attempt is being made to schedule a meeting between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is further understood that Modi might travel to Washington DC next month to meet Trump, if the meeting does happen. As of now, there is no finality on such a meeting. Some reports have suggested that Modi who will be travelling to France next month to attend an AI Summit could possibly meet Trump there also. But while Trump has been invited to the Summit in France, there is yet no confirmation that he plans to attend it.

For India, the other concern is China and how Trump develops his relations with Beijing. Trump might meet the Chinese leadership before he meets Modi which could hurt optics. New Delhi’s and Washington’s relationship has grown over the last decade, and it remains a matter of the highest priority for India to get this meeting scheduled soon.

India will be hosting the Quad Leaders Summit later this year and it’s expected that Trump will also be in attendance. Quad (a grouping of India, US, Japan and Australia) has emerged as one of the cornerstones of the India-US relationship of late. It is an attempt by all the four to limit the rise of China, though this is a fact never acknowledged publicly.

For the US, a stronger India in the region means a check on China and its ambitions. But with Trump 2.0 there is a sense of uncertainty. Hence, a meeting between Trump and Modi could smoothen several rough edges to the thriving relationship. – Simran Sodhi is Executive Editor of nrifocus.com