The third “2+2 Ministerial Dialogue” between India and the United States, concluded in New Delhi on October 27, 2020, is significant for the results thereof. At the same time, the timing of the dialogue is intriguing, particularly given the November 3rd election in the United States, which President Trump may or may not win.
Obviously, if Trump loses the election, the agreements signed and the understanding reached will have to be followed up on the U.S. side by a Biden Administration. The Ministry of External Affairs had to invoke the “autonomous logic of diplomatic engagements” in justifying the timing, an argument that does not hold water.
However, a prudent Ministry might have been talking discreetly to the Biden camp also. The Modi government might have correctly calculated that a Biden presidency, though it might not be averse to getting closer to India militarily, might not include a 2+2 meeting in its first hundred days. Given the confrontation with China, it was important for India to hurry up.
It can be said that Washington wanted to seduce New Delhi. Equally, New Delhi wanted to be seduced. For Trump, it is a matter of projecting confidence in getting re-elected as well as pushing India in the direction to purchase more and more American arms, a long-term goal of the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex (MICC). As is well known, the MICC has found in Trump a most enthusiastic promoter in the White House.
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