A lot has changed in the last two years–enough, at least, to make Narendra Modi not hug Donald Trump at the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. Notwithstanding his penchant for photo-ops, India’s Prime Minister spared the world a spectacle of his ‘hugplomacy.’
Thankfully, Modi chose not to inflict his awkward hugs on Trump. He engaged with the American President in a stoic, dignified manner. Instead of reading out stale diplomatic rhetoric, Modi chose his words carefully and stayed on point.
This display of stoicism is different from what we witnessed in 2017. What explains this change? Does this change in his body language–the lack of ‘hugplomacy’–signal a shift in the relationship between the two countries?
In the last two years, diplomatic relations between the two countries–the United States of America and India–have been under enormous stress. Despite the polished press releases and careful information management, several irritants have been boiling beneath the surface for a long time. And, throughout this period, one major irritant has remained a constant source of tension–Donald Trump.
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