Title: Trump and PM Modi Should Hold Direct Talks on ‘Urgent Priority’: Ex-US Envoy Nikki Haley
In a bid to mend the strained ties between India and the United States, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has called for direct talks between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Her appeal comes at a time when the relationship between the two nations has been marred by tensions over a 50% tariff on some of the major Indian exports to the US.
In an interview with NDTV, Haley, who was a close colleague of Trump during her tenure as the US Ambassador, called the partnership between India and the US a “no-brain” to counter China’s growing influence in the region. She emphasized that the most urgent priority should be to reverse the downward spiral in the bilateral ties, which would require direct talks between President Trump and PM Modi.
Haley’s remarks echo the sentiments of many other diplomatic circles, which have been urging both sides to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the issues plaguing their relationship. Her appeal is significant, considering her close relationship with President Trump and her experience in navigating complex diplomatic situations during her tenure as the US Ambassador to the UN.
The strain in the bilateral ties between India and the US has been building for some time, with the recent decision by the US to impose a 50% tariff on some of the major Indian exports being a major cause for concern. The move, which was taken by the US Trade Representative (USTR) in response to India’s decision to impose tariffs on some of the US imports, has been seen as a major setback in the bilateral trade relations between the two nations.
India and the US have been major trading partners, with bilateral trade between the two nations standing at over $160 billion in 2019-20. However, the recent tariff disputes have cast a shadow over their trade relations, with both sides trading reciprocal tariffs on several goods, including some of the major exports of India such as steel and aluminum.
Haley’s call for direct talks between President Trump and PM Modi comes at a time when the bilateral ties between the two nations are at a fragile juncture. Her appeal, therefore, gains more significance, considering the potential impact of a major diplomatic push by both sides on the relationship.
Haley, who was nominated as the US Ambassador to the UN by President Trump in 2017, was a key player in shaping the Trump administration’s foreign policy, including its relations with India. She was one of the few senior Trump administration officials who had a close relationship with PM Modi, and her views on the bilateral ties between the two nations carry significant weight.
In her interview with NDTV, Haley emphasized that the partnership between India and the US was a “no-brain” to counter China’s growing influence in the region. She highlighted the common interests and values that both nations share, including their commitment to democracy, economic growth, and strategic cooperation.
Haley also emphasized that the bilateral trade relations between the two nations were an important aspect of their partnership, and that both sides needed to work together to find a mutually beneficial solution to the current trade tensions. She called for both sides to engage in constructive dialogue and find a way to resolve their trade disputes amicably.
PM Modi and President Trump have not had a direct meeting in over a year, with their last meeting being in June 2019 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. Haley’s call for direct talks between the two leaders, therefore, gains more significance, considering the potential impact of such a meeting on the bilateral ties between the two nations.
In conclusion, Nikki Haley’s call for direct talks between President Trump and PM Modi on the ‘urgent priority’ of mending bilateral ties between India and the US gains more significance, considering the current state of the bilateral relationships. Her appeal, therefore, highlights the need for both sides to engage in constructive dialogue and find a way to resolve their trade disputes amicably. As India and the US continue to navigate the complex web of international diplomacy, a direct meeting between President Trump and PM Modi could be a major step towards strengthening their bilateral ties and fostering a more cooperative and collaborative relationship.
