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OPINION DECEMBER 04, 2020 | The Indian Eye 15

Accordingly, he assures the statement that “strengthening
creation of millions of jobs in the and deepening the relationship
process of rebuilding the crum- with India is going to be a very
bling American infrastructure, high priority.”
the revival of the auto industry Notwithstanding these fac-
when shifting to an electric vehi- tors, a highlight of the Biden Ad-
cle eco-system, setting up a new ministration’s proposed agenda
zero-emissions public transpor- is the significance given to Indi-
tation infrastructure described an-Americans in the scheme of
as the ‘second railroad revolu- things. Like in the case of the
tion’, achieving a carbon pollu- African, Central American and
tion-free power sector by 2035 Arab American communities,
through greater investments Biden promises a rich initiative
in next-generation renewable to serve the interests of Indian
hydrogen and advanced nucle- Americans — probably the first
ar technologies, as also major such targeted plan for ethnic mi-
investments in energy-efficient norities. Starting with the prom-
buildings and affordable hous- ise to reform the immigration
ing for over 5-6 million people. system, Biden talks about steps
While the progressives to stem racial hate and religious
termed it as a blueprint that will bigotry targeting Indian com-
wean the US from fossil fuels munities, restore the ‘American
and curb greenhouse emissions, dream’ for immigrants by par-
the Republicans dismissed the ticularly promoting measures
proposals as a socialist plot. for small-time Indian entrepre-
Nonetheless, the optimism over neurs, providing a roadmap of
Biden’s plan is his declared in- citizenship for the undocument-
tention to re-join the Paris Ac- ed 5 lakh Indians, clear the fam-
cord on Day one in office, and ily visa backlog and increase vi-
also convene a Global Climate sas for work-based immigration
Summit, to restore the US lead- for Indian professionals.
ership in this endeavour. Besides proposals like visas
Foremost on Biden’s for religious workers, honouring
non-proliferation agenda will be the diversity and contributions
the revival of the Iran nuclear of Indian Americans and elimi-
deal or the Joint Comprehen- nating language barriers for the
sive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a community, Biden wraps up the
key achievement for the Obama agenda by promising to support
administration which Trump de- the India-US partnership, thus
railed. Biden’s campaign docu- conjoining the relationship with
ments, while blaming Trump for India as integral to the assimila-
prompting Iran to restart its nu- tion of Indian Americans in the
clear programme and bringing democracies, India and the US, tablished by their predecessors. nation’s politico-economic and
the region to the cusp of anoth- has institutionalized over the Events like the ‘Howdy Modi’ socio-cultural matrix.
er war, proclaim that “if Tehran past decade to the extent that in the US and ‘Namaste Trump’
returns to compliance with the new incumbents at the White in Ahmedabad embody the per- A. Vinod Kumar is Associate
deal, President Biden would House were expected only to sonal equations that have also Fellow at Manohar Parrikar
re-enter the agreement using perfect the bonding, irrespec- been built by the political lead- Institute for Defence Studies and
hard-nosed diplomacy and ex- tive of any number of irritants erships on both sides. Analyses, New Delhi.
tend it.” Biden also promises ac- that may remain as policy resi- That such high camarade- Views expressed are of
tion on Iran’s other destabilizing due. The certitude of the insti- rie will continue into the Biden
activities. This would be easier tutionalized character of this administration is evident in the the author and do not necessarily
said than done considering that relationship is most embodied ease with which Prime Minister reflect the views of the Manohar
Iran has by now considerably ad- by the manner in which succes- Modi established early affinities Parrikar IDSA or of the Govern-
ment of India.
vanced in uranium enrichment sive political leaderships in both with the President-elect. With
and has revived activity in facil- New Delhi and Washington – be Antony Blinken slated to be- This is the abridged version
ities that were restricted by the it Prime Ministers Manmohan come Biden’s Secretary of State, of the article which appeared first
agreement. Singh or Narendra Modi on the there is optimism that India-US in the Comment section of the
Indian side or Presidents Barack relations are set to go notches website (www.idsa.in) of Mano-
Biden and India Obama or Donald Trump on the higher, going by Blinken’s re- har Parrikar Institute for Defense
The strategic partnership US Side – have sustained and cord of supporting the India-US Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
between the world’s two largest advanced the momentum es- nuclear deal and his recent on December 1, 2020

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