The India-US relationship will continue to grow in future, US ambassador to India Richard Verma said yesterday as the US elected Donald Trump as its 45th president.
Verma said the ties that bind India and US go beyond the friendship between Indian and American leaders.
“Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, Red or Blue on the political map, this is something fundamental to our values and to our core as Americans. And it’s something, I’m sure, that can be appreciated by all of us here – from both the oldest democracy in the world, and the largest democracy in the world,” Verma said.
“The ties that bind our two countries together are based on our shared democratic values, and go beyond the friendship of the American president and the Indian prime minister. They go beyond the economic and people-to-people ties. The US-India relationship is vitally important, it is bipartisan, and it is only growing stronger. Here’s to another four years of robust US-India dosti,” he said.
The ambassador said the last two years have been the best in India-US relationship, and added it is a “non-partisan” issue.
“As I look back, the last couple of years in particular for US-India relationship, they may be the best two years we have ever had. We are passing on the torch to the next administration in very good shape.
“The gains in the US-India relationship for decades have been on bi-partisan basis, with Republican and Democrat presidents, and different parties controlling the House and the Senate. I would even say US-India relationship is now a non-partisan issue.”
Asked what would be the US’ approach to the war against terror under the new president, the ambassador said: “I am very confident that the security partnership we have in Asia, South-Asia and with India particularly... that standing up against terrorism around the world will continue to be a big priority.”
Asked what message was sent out with Trump’s victory, the ambassador said: “I think obviously there was an economic message, probably a message about globalisation, and income inequality. We will be taking on these sensitive issues.”
He added that it will also be the job of the new president to bring the country, which is presently divided on political lines, on the same page.
“The job of the next president is to bring the country together because we can’t govern a divided country. This has been a practice in US during these transitions – as you come into power and form your coalition, you need to reach out in order to get things done. It does take coalition to get things done,” he said.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Trump.
“Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your election as the 45th president of US of America,” Mukherjee tweeted.
Modi said India looked forward to working with him closely to take bilateral ties to “a new height”.
“Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on being elected as the 45th US president,” Modi tweeted.
The prime minister also appreciated the friendship that Trump had “articulated towards India” during his campaign.
“We look forward to working with you closely to take India-US bilateral ties to a new height,” he said.
Indian industry also congratulated Trump and hoped key policies that have bought the two countries closer in recent years will continue under him, with better access to Indian skilled labour and merchandise.
“We hope challenges relating to mobility of skilled labour, market access for pharmaceutical products from India and for financial services institutions and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) will be addressed,” the Confederation of Indian Industries said.
“It would also be important for critical dialogues such as the US-India Strategic and Commercial dialogue, CEO Forum, Trade Policy Forum, etc, to continue charting pathways to augment our partnership,” it said.
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) said apprehensions linked to Trump would certainly prove wrong and India Inc looks forward to taking the bilateral economic engagement to a greater level under the new administration.