Donald Trump’s return as U.S. President and its impact on South Asia

Source: The post Donald Trump’s return as U.S. President and its impact on South Asia has been created, based on the article “Trump’s return and the South Asia outlook” published in “The Hindu” on 14th December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- International Relations-Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: The article discusses Donald Trump’s return as U.S. President and its impact on South Asia. It highlights increased U.S.-India cooperation, reduced focus on democracy, continued opposition to China, and challenges for South Asian countries in balancing major powers.

For detailed information on Trump’s Re-election and India US Relations read this article here

What is the Impact of Trump’s Return on U.S.-India Relations?

1. Strengthened Cooperation Against China: Trump’s foreign policy prioritizes countering China, aligning with India’s regional objectives. His focus on pushing back China supports India’s leadership in South Asia.
2. Less focus Over Democracy and Human Rights: Unlike Biden, Trump is likely to focus less on democracy and human rights. This will help avoid friction over India’s pragmatic support for regimes like Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina government and Myanmar’s junta.
3. Support for Regional Leadership: Trump’s burden-sharing approach emphasizes India’s leadership while the U.S. supplements it. This will deepen Indo-Pacific collaboration, including areas like defense and development.
4. Economic and Strategic Cooperation: Projects like the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Nepal and economic assistance in Sri Lanka could continue, boosting India-U.S. ties.
5. Alignment on Afghanistan and Pakistan: With reduced U.S. interest in Pakistan post-Afghanistan withdrawal, irritants in bilateral relations may diminish further.

What Could Be the Challenges for South Asia Under Trump’s Administration?

1. Under Trump, South Asia may face challenges due to his confrontational stance towards China. 2. This could pressurize countries in the region to choose sides more definitively.
2. Additionally, Trump’s unpredictable policy decisions might limit the regional countries’ flexibility in international relations.

How Might Trump’s Foreign Policy Approach Impact Global Issues?

1. Trump’s promises to tackle global issues like the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia could, if successful, alleviate economic pressures in South Asia from food and fuel inflation.
2. However, his focus on American interests and reduced emphasis on nation-building could lead to varied impacts across different countries in the region.

Conclusion

Trump’s return as U.S. President may strengthen U.S.-India ties, focusing on countering China while reducing emphasis on democracy and human rights. His policies could benefit India’s regional leadership and South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, but pressure on others like Bangladesh may rise. His focus on peace efforts may help South Asia tackle economic challenges.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the impact of Donald Trump’s potential return as U.S. President on U.S.-India relations and South Asia’s geopolitical dynamics.