The visit is significant for three reasons – first, it comes amid Russia and Ukraine urging India to be a mediator in the war. Second, the US is in election mode, moving fast towards its crucial presidential elections in November. Third, with Hindus under attack in Bangladesh, voices in India and the US are demanding the US to intervene.
Mediator
As far as India’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war is concerned, it is moving ahead on this path with a spirit of complex, firm and responsible diplomacy, where it stands with ‘India First’ in every sense. NSA Ajit Doval met President Putin in St Petersburg and conveyed the Prime Minister’s desire to assist in the peace process.
Even though President Volodymyr Zelensky has been vocal about Prime Minister Modi’s ‘hug diplomacy’ with Putin, the United States has so far refrained from making any harsh comments on India’s ‘peace’ stance.
Kamala vs Trump
The second reason matters more than anything else for the US, especially the Democrats, at the moment. Kamala Harris, a presidential candidate of partly Indian descent, will want to attract Indian-origin voters – who have been the traditional vote base for the Democrats.
But more importantly, how Indian-Americans spend their money in these elections is important for US politicians. At least a dozen NRIs raised more than $100,000 for Joe Biden and his then-running partner Kamala Harris in 2020, according to a list published on Biden’s website.
The donors included the likes of Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ajay Bhutoria, Democrat Shefali Razdan Duggal, Pramila Jayapal and Netflix’s Bela Bajaria.