Sohini Chatterjee, a faculty member at Columbia University who previously served as senior policy advisor in the Obama administration, said in some cases, there will be a “little bit of consistency” as both United States President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden believe that India is an important strategic partner in the region. But Trump’s relationship with India was a bit more short-term and reactive, and the Biden administration is likely to have a slightly more deliberate and thoughtful engagement with India, Chatterjee told PTI. The Biden administration is going to be much more concerned with basic, fundamental human rights, she said. Chatterjee also said that there could be greater cooperation between India and the United States in multilateral institution, in particular at the UN Security Council where India is now a non-permanent member for the next two years beginning January next year. Stating that the Trump administration was very keen to disengage from the multilateral institutions, she noted the Biden administration has a chance to lead again on the global stage.
India is evidently pro President-Elect Biden after Modi’s office tweeted images of himself and Biden embracing back in 2014 and 2016 when the former vice president clinched Pennsylvania and enough electoral votes to secure election victory. I’ve noticed India’s media has also latched onto the idea of a slow-burning bromance between Biden and Modi, touting the long-standing relationship between the two. For the Modi government, these gestures are key to ensuring good relations continue with India’s largest trading partner, as Donald Trump prepares to exit the Oval Office.
I believe President-elect Biden’s foreign policy could approach trade as part of a broader strategy to deepen ties with global partners and bring a sense of stability back to trade negotiations. It is also possible Biden could roll back the tariffs that the Trump administration slapped on Indian goods and reinstate the Generalized System of Preferences as a way to rebuild trust and strengthen diplomatic relations. However, while trade negotiations will continue, I do not see a United States-India bilateral free trade deal to be an immediate priority for a Biden White House, given the immense economic challenges the United States faces at home, particularly with COVID-19.