Houston, we don’t have a problem
Personal affinity; synergy on terror, economy and defence; and Indian-Americans serve as the common thread. Former ambassador Navtej Sarna explains why the Houston leg was pivotal in making Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the USA (September 21-27) a resounding success.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second visit to the United States during the Donald Trump administration got off to a dream start in Houston. The Howdy Modi extravaganza, attended by 50,000 Indian-Americans, outshone the 2014 Madison Square Garden event both in scale and by virtue of Trump sharing the stage with Modi. The presence of Senators and Congressmen, including the House Majority Democrat leader Steny Hoyer, speaks to bipartisan support in the Congress for the India-US partnership. While the formal bilateral meeting on Tuesday will be the appropriate occasion for a serious discussion, Houston provides some important insights.
The most obvious takeaway from the event was the personal chemistry between the two leaders. This easy affinity had been evident during their first-ever meeting at the White House in June 2017, but appeared to wobble a bit after some disruptive Trump tweets on tariffs and remarks on the marginal Harley Davidson issue. Recent meetings in Osaka and Biarritz indicated a correction: The Houston event has converted that into a publicly demonstrated bond. Lavish personal praise, mutually expressed admiration for each other’s achievements, the body language throughout the event, and the political equivalent of a victory lap around the ecstatic stadium at the end said it all. Given Trump’s personality, this personal chemistry can prove to be a winning card.
The second alignment of views was on the issue of terrorism. A standing ovation greeted Trump’s statement against radical Islamic terror. The PM in turn made a thinly-veiled strike at Pakistan as a sponsor of terror without naming the country; he underlined the common vulnerability with the US by referencing both 9/11 and 26/11. The Trump administration has, by and large, taken a harder line on Pakistan’s sponsorship of terror despite some tactical rope given in exchange for cooperation on Afghanistan. Cooperation with India on counterterrorism has grown, as clear from fresh designations of terrorist organisations and favourable developments at the United Nations and Financial Action Task Force.
Both leaders spoke extensively about the two economies and the way ahead. The prime minister laid out his vision of India’s development including enhanced coverage in rural sanitation, rural connectivity and banking. Affordability of data and the removal of excess regulations had contributed to greater ease of doing business which made India an attractive FDI destination. He also spoke about the steps necessary to achieve a $5 trillion economy — more investment, enhanced infrastructure and increased exports. All this is important for America to hear. India as an economy with a bright future is a very positive part of the India story.Trump talked up the six million jobs created during his tenure, the low unemployment and inflation rates, and his tax cuts. He praised investment by Indian companies in the US and the tens of thousands of American jobs created. India has repeatedly made this point since the Trump administration, extremely transactional on trade and investment, took office.
Though trade issues would probably be reserved for the bilateral meeting, both leaders talked about a subset: Energy cooperation. The significance of the PM’s first engagement — with CEOs of 17 energy majors — was not lost on Trump. He welcomed India’s purchase of oil and natural gas from the US and pushed for further increase, projecting the US as the world’s number one producer of oil and gas. India has consistently argued that the annual purchase of $4.5 billion since 2017 will make a serious dent in the $ 24 billion trade deficit that worries Trump’s trade team. From our viewpoint, this straight purchase must deepen to mutual investment in the energy sector.
Takeaways from New York
PM Modi attended a combination of multilateral and bilateral meetings after his arrival in NY for the UNGA. Prime Minister attended three UN meetings: UN Summit on Climate Change, Universal Health Coverage and Leader’s Dialogue on Strategic Response to Terrorists and Violent Extremists. PM Modi’s speeches at all three UN multilaterals were received with great interest and India’s rising stature both as a democracy and a major influencer in the world were evident at all three events. During the day, Prime Minister Modi also held six bilateral meetings with the Emir of Qatar, President of Niger, Prime Minister of Italy, Executive Director of UNICEF, President of Namibia and President of Maldives. On the second day of his visit to NY the PM started off with a bilateral meeting with the US President, followed by an India-Pacific Leader’s Meeting. PM Modi also attended the ‘Gandhi at 150’ event at the UN Complex. The India funded USD 1 million solar roof-top panels at the UN Complex were launched to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary in addition to two other launches, a remote inauguration of the Gandhi Peace Garden at the State University of New York Campus at Old Westbury where 150 trees have been planted in honor of Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary and the release of a UN postage stamp on Gandhi ji.
Later in the evening, the Indian PM was awarded the ‘Global Goalkeeper’s’ award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts for his leadership in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The Prime Minister also delivered the keynote address at the opening plenary session of the Bloomberg Global Business Forum. This was followed by an investment round table meeting with CEOs of organised by the Government of India and Invest India which was attended by 40 major American companies. On 27th September, the Prime Minister addressed the UN General Assembly where he highlighted his government’s various developmental policies and India’s firm commitment to climate change initiatives and world peace.
Inputs/information sourced from the September 23, 2019, edition of Hindustan Times