India needs to revisit past assumptions about India-US strategic ties.
What are the uncertainties prevailing in US?
Trump has thrown traditional US political rules and politeness out of the window with no regard for decorum.
This has forced the press and his political rivals to follow suit and democratic space for accommodative discussion has literally vanished.
The White House, meanwhile, has turned into a dysfunctional battleground as one senior staffer after another heads for the exit.
Last week, he refused to condemn neo-Nazis outright and also lost his key right-hand man Steve Bannon.
The US is still the world’s reigning superpower, so Trump’s antics affect everyone on the planet.
The President’s erratic tweeting habits have also sent out confusing signals ruining years of carefully crafted diplomatic victories.
What are the implications for India?
Since the start, Trump has shown little real interest in India and his volatile behaviour has put our policy experts in a big dilemma.
Although we’ve been building a close relationship with the US to counterbalance China, given the US uncertainty, it’s going to be an increasingly lonely trek.
US may also be hoping the Chinese will help in dealing with the menace of North Korea, a tilt that will work against India’s interests.
With this hazy maze in the background, we may have to proceed all the more carefully in the days ahead.
