Experts with diplomatic experience along with analysts urge individuals not to overvalue statements from ex-President Trump where he appears to soften his rhetoric against India. Such inconsistencies are believed to be a part of his strategic approach: confound potential opponents by alternating between aggressive and applauding remarks. Past instances show him praising leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea, all whilst negotiating from a position of ascendency in the backdrop of an increasingly doubting global community.
“Given the tactical decisions that led to strained ties with the United States under the Trump administration, India would likely hesitate to place too much faith in the country,” was the sentiment echoed by many. They refer to the unilateral steps taken that undermined the progress of the relationship, some of which were initiated during Trump’s first term. The frequent use of sanction-like threats against India and the conflation of tariffs with sanctions did not help either.
These actions revitalized uncomfortable historical recollections and exacerbated sensitivities related to the US in India. Hopes of repairing this distressed relationship seem even more unlikely when considering the antagonism that arose between not just India, but other close allies and contractual partners worldwide thanks to the implementation of ‘America First’ policies.
The destructive effects of such policies were not limited to India. Prominent allies including Canada, Mexico, Denmark, Japan, and Brazil also felt the impact, resulting in strained relationships. In a singular instance of global alienation, the Trump administration managed to infuriate both North and South Korea through distinct actions on the same day.
This was illustrated in the case of several South Korean employees at a Hyundai factory in Georgia who were detained due to suspected visa violations. The detentions led to public backlashes in front of the US embassy in Seoul, and prompted the South Korean Foreign Minister to personally intervene, flying to the United States to save the employees from being held in custody.
Such an incident implies and exemplifies a scenario where Indian employees working in the US under a xenophobic ‘America First’ approach might face similar challenges. It paints a grim forewarning of the potential adversities they might encounter.
Further straining relations, The New York Times disclosed a covert military operation approved by Trump in his first term. The operation’s objective was to infiltrate North Korea and plant an electronic surveillance device to intercept communications involving Kim Jong-un prior to their proposed historic meeting.
This clandestine operation, however, was abruptly suspended when the team of Navy SEALs unexpectedly crossed paths with a small North Korean fishing boat. In ensuring their mission remained covert, they fatally wounded the fishing crew before making a hasty withdrawal from their operation.
Raising ethical questions, the SEALs inflicted knife wounds on the lungs of the fishing crew to ensure their bodies would submerge and not be found, thereby keeping the unsuccessful operation hidden from public view.
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