BY NOW, the world appears sure that the United States is playing a game of confused diplomacy -- in which Washington is not likely to emerge a winner. If President Mr. Donald Trump moves around like a bull in china shop, his administration’s other officials appear trying their best to save the American interests in whatever possible manner. Among several examples that can be cited to prove this point of extreme contradiction in American diplomacy is the latest statement by Mr. Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to India, that India was “most essential” to America on trade deal. This assertion contrasts sharply with the statement of US Secretary of Commerce Mr. Howard Lutnick that the trade deal between US and India stalled because Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi did not place a phone-call to President Mr. Donald Trump. This shows the scatter-brain character of the current American diplomacy. If India were so essential to the US, then a phone-call should not have become a reason for the stalling of an all-important trade deal. India is smart enough to understand the confusion reigning supreme in the current American diplomacy. The scenario gives an impression that the Americans do not demonstrate any sense of focus on matters as important as trade deal with a country as important and “essential” as India.

 

This may be considered the lowest point in US diplomacy over the past few decades. If the confusion about India is one case, Cuba represents another. For, as stated by American sources close to Mr. Donald Trump, Venezuelan President Mr. Nicolas Maduro was (physically) removed because he was a Cuban ally. Then came another diatribe by Mr. Trump. He declared himself “Acting President”, and almost in the same breath warned Cuba to enter a deal (with US) “before it is too late”. What an arrogance -- but also what a manner of diplomacy! The confusion is not episodic, so to say. In Mr. Trump’s White House, confusion is the condition in which the President’s ego floats directionless. So, tariffs go up and down -- and now Iran also comes under the scanner, with the US declaring 25% tariffs on any country dealing with Tehran. And suddenly, things appear to change in India’s favour -- not in the White House, but among the lawmakers. They favour India.

 

They say, India is a good partner. They also insist that India is a far better partner of the US than Pakistan ever was and could ever be. Obviously, the US under Mr. Trump is a non-classic example of superpower diplomacy bathed in confusion. Nobody in Washington seems to know what to do and how to do and why to do and who is doing what in the ultimate analysis. This confusion does not have the status of a churn -- from which often emerges the cream of good decisions and excellence. What is happening in Washington is just a conundrum -- better still, chaos ! -- which America might not have seen ever. Does a superpower behave in such a manner? -- is the question everybody at least in the US must be asking.

 

A seasoned diplomatic warrior such as Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi -- and his trusted Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar -- need not be worried overly about what the US does. Patience is their shield and firm policies in foreign affairs their lighthouses. Armed with those, Indian diplomatic community can handle the American confusion in a focused manner. For, when a superpower acts like a goon in a side lane, then countries as seasoned as India need not worry. All they must do is to continue walking their avowed path with fortitude and farsightedness. A stable India is possibly the best response to Mr. Trump’s hooliganism. For, such conduct cannot travel far, and the day may not be too far when Mr. Donald Trump learns his lessons the hard way. There is a reason to believe that the US President is terribly worried about that.