The relations between the United States and India will be at their best under a Donald Trump presidency, the Republican presidential candidate said. Addressing a gathering of Indians, organised by the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC), Mr. Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “pro-growth leader” and “a great man”.
“I look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi, who has been very energetic in reforming the economy and bureaucracy,” Mr. Trump said. He promised to work together with India in the fight against “radical Islamic terrorism” and to visit India “many many times in the future”.
Mr. Trump said under his presidency there will be an increased sharing of intelligence between the U.S. and “[the country’s] great friend India in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism”. India, he said, has experienced first-hand the “brutality of terror”. The terrorist attack in Mumbai and the attack on Indian Parliament were “absolutely outrageous and terrible... We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism. We will stand shoulder to shoulder in this fight. This is so important in the age of [IS],” he said.
‘India, a strategic ally’
“India is a key, and key strategic ally. And we do not even want to talk about it, because it is nothing but the best relationship that we will have. I look forward to deepening the diplomatic and military cooperation that is the shared interest of both countries,” he said.
Speaking to an Indian newspaper earlier, Mr. Trump had called the India-Pakistan situation “a tinderbox” and said he was willing to mediate between the two if necessary. He praised RHC founder Shalabh ‘Shalli’ Kumar, a Chicago businessman who was instrumental in taking three Republican members of the U.S. Congress to Gujarat in 2013, when Mr. Modi was the State’s Chief Minister.
This is the first time that a presidential candidate has attended an Indian community event. Indian-Americans largely vote for Democrats, according to all available evidence, but Mr. Trump’s repeated reference to “Islamic terrorism” has appealed to many of them. Some attendees at the rally believed that under Mr. Trump their wait for permanent residency in the U.S. will get shorter. The candidate has given no such indication, however. Mr. Kumar has argued that “Republican principles of family values, individual liberty and strong foreign policy” are similar to Hindu values.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has several Indian advisers around her, and many pro-Hindutva and pro-Modi groups and individuals are supporting her in this campaign. “Great man. I applaud him,” Mr. Trump said, about Mr. Modi. “India is the world’s largest democracy and is a natural ally of the United States. Under a Trump administration, we are going to become even better friends. In fact, I will take the word even out because we are going to be best friends.”
“This is historic in many ways,” Mr. Trump said of the opportunity to address the Hindu-American community. “I have great friends and great confidence in India. Incredible people and an incredible country,” he said.
“I am a big fan of Hindu and I am a big fan of India [sic]. If I am elected President, the Indian and Hindu community would have a true friend at the White House,” Mr. Trump said. Referring to his real estate projects in India, the candidate said: “I have two massive developments in India, very successful, wonderful, wonderful partners, very beautiful, I must say... I was there 19 months ago and look forward to going there many many times.”
“Generations of Hindus and Indian-Americans have strengthened our country,” he said, praising the community for its hard work, commitment to education and enterprise. “That’s very impressive by the way.”
“I look forward to doing some serious bureaucratic trimming right here in the U.S., believe me we need it most,” Mr. Trump said. “Your great Prime Minister has been a pro-growth leader for India. He has simplified the tax code, cut the taxes and the economy is strong growing at 7 per cent year. Excellent.” “We are going to have great relation with China and Mexico, but we are going to have a great relationship with India. We are for free trade. We will have good trade deals with other countries. We are going to do a lot of business with India. We are going to have a phenomenal future together.”
