Trump's Re-Election Will Likely Continue US-India Strategic Partnership: Experts

Washington: re-election of Donald Trump as next president of United States will likely continue US-India strategic partnership, while Washington might opt a more assertive approach to counter China, experts said.

"Trump's re-election will likely continue US-India strategic partnership, buoyed by his rapport with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi from his previous term. We may see a more assertive US focus on countering China, one of main factors that has drawn US and India closer over years,” said Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives at Asia Society.

"However, this could shape into a high-stakes, high-expectation relationship, with greater emphasis on burden sharing. Similarly, any shifts in US policy toward China could d new complexities, requiring India, which has its own China challenge, to navigate carefully to balance its regional and global priorities,” she said.

While many in South Asia welcome chance to deepen ties, Trump's past policies of tariffs and unilateral deals serve as a reminder that ecomic partnership may come with a cost.

“For India especially, securing benefits while preserving strategic automy will be a high-wire act. Tre and immigration will remain as crucial issue areas within bilateral equation,” she ded.

"With a return to ‘America First,’ South Asia will need a clear-eyed approach, recognizing that every deal with US w could carry a price tag. For nations here, coming years will mean carefully balancing aspirations with transactional realities,” Aamer said.

According to Daniel Russel, vice president, International Security and Diplomacy, return of Trump likely means renewed tariffs, tougher tre terms, and restrictions on Chinese techlogy rooted in his ‘America First’ ethos.

"Beijing doubt expects pressure on multiple fronts, but with high-stakes ecomic brinkmanship as a centrepiece.  Trump ministration can be expected to use massive tariffs and or forms of ecomic lever in an effort to exploit vulnerabilities in Beijing's slower-growing ecomy,” Russel said.

While Trump may weaken US commitments to Asian allies, China is wary of his penchant for sudden confrontational moves. This complicates Beijing’s strategy for dealing with Taiwan, Philippines, as well as rth Korea, he said.