Former Indian Envoy: US Election Outcome a Verdict on Biden

New Delhi: With Donald Trump 's historic political comeback securing him US presidency, a former Indian diplomat stated on Wednesday that election result also serves as a verdict on incumbent President Joe Biden .

78-year-old Republican leer secured a second term as US president, defeating his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in a fiercely contested election.

Although formal inauguration at White House is still nearly two months away, India's former ambassor to Italy, K.P. Fabian, suggested that Trump would likely want "Ukraine war to be over."

"Though Kamala Harris was candidate, it was also a verdict on (Joe) Biden. Because, she was Vice President and Biden minated her. So, partly, she was carrying Biden burden in respect of ecomy." Fabian said about outcomes of election. 

With prices going up, especially of gas, and for Americans who roam all round in ir cars, this is very important, he ded.

Many US voters considered immigration, border security, gun control, reproductive rights, and foreign policy as key issues in election.

Fabian said Russia-Ukraine war and West Asia conflict may have been a factor that might have influenced voters' decisions.

"Ukraine war, you may say majority of Americans support Ukraine, but it doesn't follow that Americans want a big war. And, that America should be sending so much money by way of military aid and ecomic aid," he said.

Military aid doesn't matter because money remains in America, selling weapons. But in ecomic aid, money goes, former diplomat said.

"And... war in West Asia, Biden me a mistake...," Fabian argued.

Trump, who has been a real estate baron, was elected as 45th President of US, riding on his 'Make America Great Again' campaign, and returns to White House as 47th President of that country, clearing 270 electoral votes needed to clinch presidency.

Venu Rajamony, who served as India's envoy to Nerlands from 2017 to 2020, said Trump has a number of foreign policy issues on his table, even more important is Russia-Ukraine conflict, and similarly what is happening in Gaza.

When asked, if Ukraine war will be high on Trump's nda, he said, "absolutely".

"In fact, he himself h said that it is high on his nda, and kwing kind of person he is, he may t even wait till formal inauguration, so he may make statements, make moves which indicates or reflects his thinking on how problem should be solved. So, let us wait and watch," he ded.

On Trump's win and West Asia conflict, Rajamony said, people who support him have been big backers of Israel, so wher it emboldens Israel to continue and increase intensity of war, wher Israel pulls back and offers a ceasefire in return from American support to sort of restructure architecture of Middle East in Israel's favour, "all this has to be seen, we have to wait and see what approaches President Trump opts".

Many US voters h ackwledged that West Asia and ohter conflicts did weigh on ir minds before y cast ir vote. run-up to what has been described as one of closest US elections in recent times, saw Trump and Harris holding packed rallies and firing fierce verbal volleys against each or.

Fabian recalled bitter campaign and some of words used by Trump in it that also stoked controversies and drew sharp reaction from Democratic camp.

"He has a style which Americans like it, a substantial number of m like it," he said.

Rajamony, currently working as a professor of diplomatic practice at O P Jindal Global University, recalled that Indian foreign minister h earlier said that outlook for world in next 4-5 years is, "very grim".

He argued that Trump winning race to White House makes it "grim as well volatile and uncertain" and "we just don't kw what approaches and what policies he will opt and it could be very unconventional policies." Rajamony said it was "disappointing" that Harris lost, but that doesn't mean support for causes she stood for are over.

H 60-year-old Harris, daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, won, she would have also scripted history by becoming first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to occupy top post at White House.

"I think, much more important than Indian descent of Kamala Harris is what she stood for, and what she represented in terms of standing up for US Constitution, preventing attacks on Constitution, creating an inclusive society, promoting American middle-class, working class as different from rich, of course, she stood or women, and women of colour, so it is in a way disappointing that she lost, but that doesn't mean support for se causes are over," Rajamony said.

"We all kw that US remains a deeply divided, polarised society, and I am sure battle on many of se issues, like reproductive rights of women will continue even in greater strength w with President Trump in power," he ded.

former envoy said this victory "should t embolden" more right-wing people in US, to take even more illiberal polices.

"I don't think battle is over, I don't think healing will begin immediately," he said.

(with ncy inputs)