The Republican platform adopted by the party national convention considerably dilutes the rhetoric that fuelled presidential candidate Donald J Trump’s primary campaign, and sticks to traditional U.S positions on several key foreign policy issues.
The document describes India a “geopolitical ally and a strategic trading partner” and states, with Pakistan, “a working relationship is necessary, though sometimes difficult.” A Republican administration will work towards securing the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan, echoing a concern that has guided the Obama administration’s South Asia policy. On Afghanistan and West Asia, the Republican document “blames the current administration’s feckless treatment of troop commitments and blatant disregard of advice from commanders on the ground.”
While the customary paragraph on India in the document reflects continuity and stability, and even singles out Indian Americans for praise – “Republicans note with pride the contributions to our country that are made by our fellow citizens of Indian ancestry” – the section on immigration leaves room for concern from an Indian perspective.
“America’s immigration policy must serve the national interest of the United States, and the interests of American workers must be protected over the claims of foreign nationals seeking the same jobs,” the party platform said. There is no specific reference to the H 1B visa programme in the document, but the argument that foreign workers are taking over American jobs legally is raised frequently in its context. Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama, a strong critic of the H 1B visa programme, was a primetime speaker on Monday at the convention. His virulent views on trade and immigration had pushed him to the margins of the Republican Party, but Mr Sessions has emerged as a key figure in the Trump coterie. "It cannot be our policy to have workers from abroad take jobs while we provide support payments for unemployed Americans," Mr. Sessions told the convention.
In an apparent effort to calm the evangelical constituency of the Republican Party that gets agitated over reports of occasional religious violence against Christians in India, the document says: “For all of India’s religious communities, we urge protection against violence and discrimination.”
“India is our geopolitical ally and a strategic trading partner. The dynamism of its people and the endurance of their democratic institutions are earning their country a position of leadership not only in Asia but throughout the world. We encourage the Indian government to permit expanded foreign investment and trade, the key to rising living standards for those left out of their country’s energetic economy,” the platform says.
Pakistan is discussed in the document in the context “conflicts in the Middle East,” and the party takes a combative posture towards China and Russia. In the case of Russia, the document even calls for expanding and strengthening sanctions against it. Mr. Trump has sent conflicting signals on Russia during his primary campaign, at times calling for cooperation to counter the Islamist threat, and talking of the threat posed by Russia.
“Pakistanis, Afghans, and Americans have a common interest in ridding the region of the Taliban and securing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. That goal has been undermined by the current Administration’s feckless treatment of troop commitments and blatant disregard of advice from commanders on the ground, particularly with regard to Afghanistan. A Republican president will work with all regional leaders to restore mutual trust while insisting upon progress against corruption and the narcotic trade that fuels insurgency,” the party document says.
No Muslim ban, but ‘Trump wall’ is on the agenda
The Republican Party has officially adopted the controversial Trump proposal to build a wall along the U.S border with Mexico but has watered down the idea of banning non-citizen Muslims from entering the country. “..we support building a wall along our southern border and protecting all ports of entry. The border wall must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic,” it said.
“…we must apply special scrutiny to those foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States from terror-sponsoring countries or from regions associated with Islamic terrorism. This was done successfully after September 11, 2001, under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, which should be renewed now,” the platform says.
