With the elections coming up in 2024 in the United States, the political race is getting tighter and tighter, not only in the United States but also in other countries in the world, including India.

With Vice President Kamala Harris potentially running against former President Donald Trump, many are asking: Who would be more suitable for India between two different candidates?

Let’s break it down. Kamala Harris: A Friend to India? For the first time in history, the Vice President of the United States is a female; more specifically, she is the first South Asian female ever, and her connection to India is very special. Her mom was from India, and she occasionally discussed her Indian background. Such a personal link could help develop some restraint due to human emphasis on what has happened to India. Since she became the vice president under the Biden administration, Harris has been in a government that seeks to deepen relations with India.

Donald Trump: A Different Approach

In contrast, Trump’s administration was more transactional in its foreign policy. He also worked on the building of a stronger defence cooperation with India, which is most importantly aimed at countering China in the region known as the Indo-Pacific. The signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement, which was signed recently, was a step in this direction as it paves the way for military cooperation.

While pursuing the ‘America First’ policy, on the other hand, Trump created conflict in the trade policies. His administration placed tariffs on different products, a measure that impacted the Indian exportation of goods. Certainly, if Trump comes back to the Oval Office, he would still be keen on securing the interests of the United States, and this is good for India because it moves away from the economic relations of the two nations.

It can also be beneficial that Trump talks directly to people, and he has rather plain communication with other leaders of countries. He personally had a friendly relationship with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his presidency, which may help in carrying relations out.

Bigger Picture: What’s Best for India?

Therefore, who is more suitable for India? Thus, to understand the answer to the question, such strategies are not straightforward at all. Harris is a perfect incarnation of the current administration’s practices on the international level, including cooperation between nations and changes in immigration policy. This would mean a consolidation of a less volatile and, in the long run, mutually beneficial bilateral relationship between the two countries.

On the other hand, Trump’s concentration on defence and his opposition to China might be viewed as key concerns of India. But his tininess and instability, as well as threats of protectionism, could pose problems.

Therefore, the most crucial criterion that will probably indicate which of the two will ultimately be best for India could be the particular policies that each candidate has proposed, especially as the election draws closer. So, it becomes crucial for the policymakers in India to remain active and open for any chance—that who so ever comes to power.

With the US elections looming, it is important for Indians, no matter where they are living, to get to know the candidates and their state of mind. It is no doubt that it will have a bearing on the US-India relationship, but then the onus lies in being an occupation and interested.

Whether it was Harris or Trump, the emphasis should be put on creating a symbiotic relationship between the two cultures. All the same, in today’s global village, the outcomes of decisions made in one nation may be consequential to the rest of the world. Therefore, let’s continue the discussion to keep focus on the actions that will be best for India during this highly significant election.