INDIA-U.S.RELATIONS TO FLOURISH IN TRUMP 2

By the time this write-up is published, Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States. India and Indians in general are more than hopeful that India-US relations will hit the high note during his presidency.

- J OYEETA BASU

This belief was reflected in an interesting opinion poll carried out by a British newspaper recently, which showed that of all the major countries, India was the one most optimistic about a Trump presidency. 82% of Indians saw Trump as a force of good for world peace; 84% saw Trump as good for India; and 85% as good for Americans.

There is reason to believe that this is because India's experience with Trump 1.0 has been rather good. Many Indians have not forgotten Trump's visit to India in February 2020, especially what he said, when asked by a foreign journalist about the so-called oppression of the minorities in India. He replied that he had raised the topic with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the latter had said that the rising percentage of the minority population in the country was proof that oppression was not happening. President Trump said he was impressed with that logic, and that the matter was settled.