The following blog post appeared on Order from Chaos, a blog of the Brookings Institution, on 28 April, 2017. The full text can be found here.
Donald Trump’s first 100 days has witnessed some actual
attempts to follow through on his campaign rhetoric. There was the
poorly-worded executive order on immigration (the so-called “Muslim ban”), his
withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and an executive order on Buy
American, Hire American. At the same time, confusion has reigned with the
sudden replacement of his national security advisor, his walking back on
matters such as NATO, and the continued absence of senior policymakers below
his cabinet. These factors have contributed to several uncertainties concerning
American openness (which is really what makes American great), his China
policy, his counterterrorism priorities, and his approach to global governance.
While continuing to try to engage with the White House,
countries like India have little choice but to deepen their outreach to the
U.S. Congress, state governments, and the American private sector. At the same
time, other partners—not least Europe and Japan, but also in some respects
Russia and China—have grown in relevance from New Delhi’s point of view. In the
long run, a partnership with the United States is still necessary and
beneficial. But in the short run, India still needs a backup plan.