OBVIOUSLY, Mr. Donald Trump’s second term as 47th President of the United States of America (US) is slated to follow an agenda that most will term as ‘aggressive’. No matter such opinions, it is clear that the next four years with Mr. Donald Trump firmly entrenched in the White House are going to be among the most complicated periods in recent international affairs.

 

For, even as he took oath, Mr. Trump declared a rather aggressive agenda touching multiple sectors of public affairs not just in the US but also elsewhere in the world -- as can be surmised from the long list of what he will end and what he will do in the next four years. Given that, it is clear that the entire world is going to be affected by the Trump agenda in varying measures. Of course, India, too, will be affected to some extent, no matter the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers Mr. Donald Trump as his ‘dear friend’. But then, in international affairs, details matter only at certain stage, but things go along stated lines. That Mr. Trump may adopt a tough line on some issues dealing with India, was known to New Delhi for quite some time. Issues such as international trade tariff are bound to create obstacles in smooth India-US relations. No matter that, what will matter more is how India handles the new scenario vis-a-vis the United States. No matter some intriguing details, India and the US have evolved into a fine partnership encompassing multiple mutual interests. Mr. Donald Trump is fully aware of those areas of common interest, and would never want to hurt those. Among mutually beneficial interests are strategic partnerships India and the US have forged in recent years -- across presidencies.

 

On those counts, thus, India should rest assured that there would be no uncalled for complications. Other parts of Mr. Trump’s agenda will have their own complications for the President. He has declared that his will be a no-nonsense regime that will end the current American transgender policy, will be tough on immigration regulations and would deport people in big numbers. The main thrust of all those points on the Trump agenda is on sprucing up the domestic administration to further which Mr. Trump will not hesitate even declaring a National Emergency -- something liberal America may not be prepared to tackle. But suggesting a strong rightist twist, Mr. Donald Trump has demonstrated a resolve to correct many wrongs the US had harboured over decades. In other words, Mr. Trump seems to propose a country that non-Americans cannot now abuse by setting non-American goals for the country. This approach is most likely to attract both, a lot of criticism as well as a lot of appreciation. But most of those aspects will gladden the nationalist elements in the US and elsewhere since their introduction and implementation would mean a no-nonsense response to the looseness of liberal social policies -- that tended to border on waywardness.

 

If Mr. Trump succeeds in changing the overall scenario even by a marginal percentage, he will help America to rise above the slush of its own making -- slush of stupid narratives aimed at only disturbing the social order. For the Indian diaspora in the US, the change of regime may portend something positive, something in their long-term interest. On the global front, Mr. Trump may prove to be a great disrupter, but that stance may help in the process of correction of a confusing global order currently dominating the international scene. Mr. Trump’s America, without doubt, will be different this time and may pose challenges to the world in settling multi-lateral matters in an amicable manner. In that situation, however, India may be better-placed to handle its relations with the US and the world.