Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington comes amidst internal political challenges and media-driven perceptions, with India’s global positioning at stake. by Gopal Misra
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally flown to Washington to meet the US President Donald Trump for redesigning their strategic and indeed personal ties in the new political environment.
The hesitation of Modi and his bureaucratic-driven establishment is palpable. Few expect any spectacular gains in the summit, but he is expected to carry forward Trump’s peace agenda.
It is Modi’s first encounter with Trump in his new avatar. It is to be ascertained yet how much Modi is regretting for ignoring Trump’s request to meet him, when he was facing his existential fight during the election campaign.
In the backdrop of this faux pas, the US-India summit does not look optimistic or favourable for India.
After struggling through the ordeal, Trump has emerged much more powerful in his second innings. The same however cannot be stated about Modi.
During the 2024 presidential poll, Trump was not only pitted against the Democratic Party nominee, Kamala Harris, but against the state institutions, deep state and a section of judiciary. Therefore, it is not surprising that his nominee for the post of Director, FBI, Kash Patel is facing hurdles in the Senate’s approval from a section of the Democrats. They apprehend retribution from Trump, if his nominee is chosen for the sensitive post.
In India, it is no more an issue, the Union Government under Modi has already been unleashing CBI and other institutions against the civil servants and politicians found not toeing his personal agenda. His position as the leader has lost a little shine, when he wrestled his third term by adopting a questionable process. He may be legally correct but if tested on the basis of ethics mostly adhered to in parliamentary democracy, few may approve of his tactics.
It, however, is a matter of perception. But this minor eclipse in his political image might weaken his negotiating power with the world’s most powerful leader, when they discuss during the summit scheduled in mid-February.
Agenda for peace
Trump may ask Modi to play a proactive role for the restoration of peace in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump may ask Modi to take a more active role in efforts to restore peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. While this could give Modi a temporary boost in political stature, his non-political team mainly consists of ineffective and inexperienced civil servants. They may not be able to live up to the task. On the other hand, Trump has got a highly effective and efficient team, including a number of people of Indian origin. Also, winning a strong presence in the Congress, Trump is expected to be one of the most effective presidents the US has had in recent years.
On the other hand, it is being noticed that the Modi government does not have the energy and passion witnessed during the G-20 summit held on 9-10 September 2023 in India.
Cheer boys in media
Interestingly, months before the inauguration on 20 January 2025, the Trump team had already done research and homework. In India, little preparation has been done for the prospects of having a new level of cooperation. Instead, Modi’s cheer boys in the media were seen presenting Trump’s invitation as a personal achievement for him.
It is sad that the “wah wah” group in the media resembles the clowns of the Mughal court. However, during the past 10 years Modi has ensured that he should be branded as a great leader without focusing on substantial studies needed for acquiring such a status.
It is hoped that in Washington, our babus will be doing their best, but Modi needs a heavy weight a la Sushma Swaraj, who had re-scripted the Indian agenda worldwide, as external affairs minister, till Modi buried her politically, perhaps having a deep apathy towards her brilliance.
Modi, like Trump, has choices. He, however, loves mediocres and is known for harbouring resentment against people in media and academics, including those close to the ruling outfit.
Modi has retained the style of centralized functioning through the PMO, but without political advice, he might be committing more mistakes.
There is a joke in New Delhi’s political circles that even a municipal councillor in Kerala has more power than a minister in the union cabinet.
It is hoped that after the summit in Washington, Modi may review his stiff control on the ministries, and they may be allowed to think and be innovative in designing the government policies.
At present, ministries are being told from the PMO to implement the policies without internal discussions. For example, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was told to introduce the system of recruiting Agniveers, just a few minutes before the press conference. It is true of the foreign office too.
In decision-making, transparency is maintained in the US, but in India even important decisions are being taken in a hush-hush manner.
It is being rightly asked whether India would concede Trump’s demand to stop her unnecessary imports of consumer goods from China. It is estimated that India has coughed up more than 1000 billion US dollars to please China in the past 10 years by importing goods, which could have been manufactured in India. It means, if India is keen to access the West’s markets as well as to update her technologies, she has to reposition her trade ties, now heavily tilted in favour of the Dragon.
Further, it is hoped that after meeting Trump, Modi may try to regain India’s influence in the South Asian region, especially in Maldives and Bangladesh.
Box- Deportation row: National disgrace, but EAM stays meek
India of 150-billion strong, vibrant, mostly youths, is shocked, humiliated and angry, when more than 100 Indians mostly from the states like Haryana and Punjab were brought home in handcuffs and restraints. Shockingly, they were handcuffed were sent back in the run up to the Modi-Trump summit.
India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, however, has justified the humiliation of Indians by the US Administration as a standard operating procedure (SOP). His assurance before Rajya Sabha that he would take up the issue with Washington must have bemused the elders. They, perhaps, were avoiding humiliation of the motherland, by further exposing the pathetic state of Indian diplomacy.
Meanwhile, the ruling establishment appears to be in overdrive to blame some Chandigarh or Delhi-based travel agents for the incident.
A former expert in diplomacy told Tehelka that Modi and his cronies may again succeed in camouflaging the humiliation, but he hoped that the truth cannot be compromised forever. According to him, it reminds the confused if not ‘hapless’ Indians of the Papal edicts or bulls issued during the colonial period that used to endorse the criminal and inhuman behaviour of the European colonizers in enslaving the natives of Africa and Americas by enchaining and humiliating them. It may be noted that even the British in their 250-year rule in India never dared to humiliate Indians in such a way, the former diplomat stated.
There is a general apprehension in New Delhi that the rulers in New Delhi would soon be seen indulging in an intensive media campaign trying to compensate for this national shame by weaving a new set of narratives reasserting invincibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For them , their countrymen are just herds of gullibles, and Indian media, once known for its objective news and analysis, would be seen claiming the summit as a great diplomatic achievement for New Delhi.
