New Delhi, Jan 28 (NationPress) Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla remarked on Tuesday that the constructive conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday evening, coupled with a strong potential for PM Modi's upcoming visit to Washington, will propel the India-US relationship significantly in the initial weeks of Trump 2.0.

According to Shringla, Trump 2.0 presents unique opportunities for various reasons. Firstly, he has taken office with an unrestricted mandate this time, giving him the capacity, especially since this is a legacy term, to advance the relationship substantially. Secondly, there exists a mutual desire to enhance the comprehensive global strategic partnership, he explained in an exclusive interview with IANS.

Following the phone call, the White House issued a statement on Tuesday (India time), indicating that both leaders discussed plans for PM Modi's visit to the White House, highlighting the strength of the friendship and strategic relations between the two nations.

“We have hit the ground running, both with the presence of External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar at the inaugural ceremony at Capitol Hill, and with the invitation extended to PM Modi for a dedicated visit to the United States shortly after President Trump took office. This will lay the groundwork for future decisions that will significantly enhance the relationship ahead of President Trump’s visit later this year for the Quad Summit hosted by India,” Shringla stated.

The experienced diplomat acknowledged that although there are several issues categorized under challenges—such as moving towards a fair bilateral trade relationship, the deportation of undocumented immigrants, and India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment—these can be effectively managed, similar to how Trump 1.0 addressed similar American demands.

Shringla emphasized that New Delhi has consistently opposed illegal immigration and has proactively collaborated with U.S. authorities in the deportation of Indian citizens identified by the authorities.

“Moreover, there is a push from the U.S. side to ensure that legal migration processes are streamlined. This is a vital source of talent for the U.S., and for us, many of our talented youth would benefit if aspects like access to H-1B visas or green cards are simplified. This should be incorporated into the discussions with the United States,” he noted.

Regarding a fair bilateral trading relationship, the former Foreign Secretary pointed out that India had previously engaged in negotiations with the U.S. under Trump 1.0 concerning a partial Free Trade Agreement that can be resumed and concluded swiftly.

“This would imply that at the outset of the Trump administration, we have a foundation to secure greater market access for our exports to the U.S. and vice versa. This is a promising way to launch this term and also diverts attention from tariff issues that are significant for Trump,” Shringla said.

On the subject of augmenting the procurement of American-made security equipment, Shringla, who has also served as India's ambassador to the U.S., believes that the acquisition of quality defense equipment has always been incorporated into discussions with the U.S.

“I believe the U.S. can provide the equipment we need, and we would be interested in those. However, it does create some pressure on us to increase our defense purchases from the U.S., which must be integrated into the broader dialogue,” he stated.

The Chief Coordinator of India's G20 Presidency asserts that all these matters can be resolved amicably, given the excellent rapport between PM Modi and President Trump.

“Successive Prime Ministers and Presidents have personally championed progress in this relationship, as Prime Minister Modi has done with successive U.S. presidents. Yet, a distinct chemistry exists between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, evidenced by the success of events like 'Howdy Modi' in Houston and 'Namaste Trump' in Ahmedabad in early 2020. There’s no doubt they share a strong relationship,” he remarked.

“They possess a great deal of mutual admiration and respect, which forms the foundation for a substantial enhancement of the bilateral relationship. It’s essential to start from the leaders' level and then extend downwards. Considering this, we have made a promising start. The conversation yesterday appears to set the stage for high-level visits and significant decisions to follow,” Shringla concluded.

He noted that PM Modi’s initiatives to resolve the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine align with President Trump's goal of ending the regional conflict.

“Prime Minister Modi has consistently articulated that this is not an era of war, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy to achieve peace. In this regard, he has invested personal effort by visiting both Russia and Ukraine to further this goal. Thus, our endeavors align with President Trump's vision of conflict resolution. There are already positive signs, as the Middle East is witnessing a ceasefire, exchanges of hostages, and the situation in Gaza is improving with people returning home and humanitarian aid flowing in. If such progress can be mirrored in Europe, particularly in Ukraine, it would be another positive development,” Shringla expressed.