Experts: Next U.S. President Has 'No Choice' but to Deepen Ties with India

Washington: positive trajectory of India-U.S. relations is likely to stay stey, although a Trump ministration and a Harris ministration may opt different approaches toward New Delhi, a foreign policy expert said on Tuesday.

Dhruva Jaishankar, executive director of America chapter at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), stated that trajectory of relationship is likely to vary in areas of tre, energy, and immigration.

As voting is underway on big Election Day, According to multiple projections, Democratic leer Kamala Harris and Republican minee Donald Trump are locked in a tight race to become 47th President of United States.

"For Trump, I think re will be some difficult negotiations over tre and immigration, although on many or issues, he has spoken about a very positive relationship with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ," Jaishankar was quoted as saying by news ncy.

"On or hand, with Harris, re will be some continuity as what we have seen under Biden ministration in past four years. But I think re will be more of a progressive nda and foreign policy, and that may have some implications for relationship with India," he ded.

Jaishankar ted that India-U.S. cooperation in energy sector is set to be "big" going forward, though he highlighted that a Harris ministration and a Trump ministration might approach it differently.

" nature of that would be different under a Republican or a Democratic ministration. A Democratic ministration would focus more on climate change, renewable energy and clean and green energy," he said.

"Republicans would focus more on fossil fuel, oil and gas. But eir way, I foresee a much closer energy relationship because India and US are two largest consumers," strategic affairs expert elaborated.

Kapil Sharma, a senior fellow with Atlantic Council's Middle East Programmes, said next American President will have to be friendly with India as he or she will have choice.

"I think both leers will have to be friendly (with India). I do t think y have a choice. India, at some point in next 20-30 years, will be second-largest ecomy in world. And that is t a country you can igre.

"I am t worried about eir leer; how y will work towards India.

It is about how y handle some of contentious issues," said Sharma, who also has experience on Capitol Hill, coming from offices of Senator Robert Torricelli and Congressman Frank Pallone.

"But if you think about ups and downs of world and geopolitics of world over last couple of years, relationship did t go off track that it could have done 15-20 years ago," he said.

ted foreign policy expert, also serving as principal in Kapstone Strategies, said he was confident that India-US ties will flourish irrespective of who becomes President.

"I am t worried about eir leer. I am confident that eir ministration would closely work with India," he said.

Anang Mittal, a Capitol Hill Veteran who also served as He of Digital for Speaker of House Mike Johnson, said Trump could be much friendlier to India than Harris.

"I think it is obvious that India-US partnership is very strong, and it is going to survive eir party coming into power," he said.

"It is obvious that Donald Trump is going to be much friendlier than Harris ministration," he ded.

On US presidential race, Mittal said it was one of tightest fights that he h seen in deces.

"Kamala Harris seems to have closed gaps slightly more in terms of her approval rating. Donald Trump has me a historic comeback from political wilderness as he faced legal troubles last year," he said.

"Regardless of wher you support him or do t support him, I think Trump has me one of biggest political comebacks since I would say Richard Nixon in terms of political struggles that he has h in last four years," Mittal ded.

In key battleground states, Indian-American community is considered to be a table force.

"Indian Americans have tritionally been voting overwhelmingly for Democrats amongst ethnic groups," said Jaishankar.

"But re has been a sense that re may be a mir shift, particularly amongst young male voters, many of whom are gravitating towards Republican Party and Donald Trump," he said.

(With PTI inputs)