Trump is still the President of the United States, even though the transitional process has started, President Trump has still not ceded the presidency. Thus, with the US domestic politics in flux and the US media declaring Biden the President the onus is on India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead the world against China’s aggressive, expansionist regime.
President Trump had been leading a fairly robust and potent war against China. Chinese malpractices in trade, interference in domestic politics of other states, coercion, and various other illegal activities were met with strong sanctions and an unrelenting trade war. As the US election results are awaited the US foreign policy is at crossroads. Media elect Biden is known for his moderate policies, thus to take the China issue head-on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already seized control as the US policies lie in the doldrums.
China’s aggression in the South China Sea and the Indo-pacific has been met with staunch opposition. India has been a key player in taking the fight to China and now as the United States awaits the results of a momentous Presidential election, India has already started to take lead in the anti-china nexus.
The importance of a free Indo-Pacific region was among the key areas of focus during the visit of India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla to the UK earlier this month as more countries rally behind India to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss a wide range of global and bilateral issues, including collaboration on Covid 19, Climate Change, trade and investment flows.
Johnson reiterated the year 2021 as an important year for India-UK ties and also reemphasized the UK’s commitment to the wider Indo-Pacific region. The United Kingdom is deploying the HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier group in the region next year as more countries stake their pledges towards India’s cause for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Read More: If Trump loses, PM Modi will become the unanimous anti-China leader of the world
Besides, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Australian counterpart, Marise Payne. During the talks, the duo covered various regional and global developments and “current concerns”.
Marise Payne described the meeting as valuable as she tweeted: “Australia & India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has guided our close cooperation on regional challenges during COVID-19. My friend @DrSJaishanka & I had a very valuable discussion today following our meeting in October.”
With Australia’s recent troubles with the paper dragon, current concerns seemed to indicate just that. Even though S Jaishankar did not elaborate on the ‘concerns’, the threat from China’s aggressive policies is hurting Australia and it needs India’s help.
In June, the two states and QUAD members signed the Mutual Logistics and Support Agreement which allows militaries of both sides to use each other’s bases for repair, and replenishment of supplies besides facilitating scaling up of overall defence cooperation.
Moreover, India invited Australia to join the US and Japan in its Malabar exercises which also formalized a militarized QUAD.
In addition to Australia, France, India’s oldest strategic partner in the west decided to fling itself into the Indo-Pacific. France has key assets in the region including territories and India commands a key role in France’s strategy for Indo Pacific.
To contain Chinese animosity and apathy to international rules more countries are bidding their support. Germany and the Netherlands are among those which are finalizing their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The common theme among the strategies of all these states is the important role of India and its robust and strong leader Narendra Modi. As the world grips itself to tackle a hostile China, Narendra Modi is seen as the ablest leader to lead the world against China’s animosity. Being a powerful leader, the Indian Prime Minister is backed by the Indian Citizens as he drives a united world against China’s tyranny.
