The joint appearance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump before a crowd of 50,000 Indian-Americans at the ‘Howdy, Modi’ event in Houston on 22 September speaks volumes about the significant and strategic relationship between the two nations.
International media, of course, had a lot to say as the top leaders of the world’s two largest democracies met. Here are some excerpts from some leading international publications:
‘Spectacle in Houston’: Wall Street Journal
Describing it as a “spectacle in Houston”, The Wall Street Journal said Trump is hoping to pick up a larger share of the growing voters bloc in 2020 than he did in 2016.
The article also highlighted that Trump understands the benefit of associating with Indian-Americans.
“The joint appearance also underscores the growing strategic significance of US-India ties. The world’s two largest democracies are a vital check on China’s ambitions to dominate the Asia-Pacific region, as Mr Trump recognises and Barack Obama did as well.”Wall Street Journal
‘Trump Played Second Fiddle to Modi’: NYT
The New York Times, in two separate pieces, underlined the two leaders’ similar style of politics, further pointing out how President Trump played “second fiddle” to PM Modi throughout the event.
“Who could resist an audience of more than 50,000 Indian-Americans packed into a Texas football stadium? Not Donald Trump, on the eve of an election year, so he joined the Howdy Modi party here to proclaim, with the Indian prime minister, a great future of shared values and mutual reinforcement for the world’s two largest democracies.”Roger Cohen, The New York Times
Another article by Michael D Shear underlined how both Trump and Modi rose to power by “embracing right-wing populism.”
“Both rose to power by embracing right-wing populism, portraying themselves as champions of the masses fighting against an entrenched establishment. Both presented voters with a vision to make their respective countries “great again”, and both have fanned tensions along religious, economic and social fault lines.”Michael D Shear, The New York Times
The article also highlighted how earning votes from Indian-Americans will not be easy for Trump, even with Modi by his side.
‘Modi Endorsed Trump’s Presidency’: The Washington Post
Philip Rucker, in his article for The Washington Post, wrote that Modi delivered an “unmistakable endorsement of Trump's presidency” and cast a joint appearance of the two democracies in historic terms.
“The foreign strategy of soothing tensions with the United States by stroking President Trump’s ego was put into vivid effect here Sunday when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lathered praise on his American counterpart at a massive rally celebrating the Indian diaspora.”Philip Rucker, The Washington Post
‘Trade Relations Rocky, Personal Ties Strong’: Huff Post
Along with trade tensions between the two nations, Brad Brooks and Steve Holland, in their article for Huff Post, discussed the ongoing tension in Kashmir over the revocation of Article 370 and the increasingly strained relationship of India with its neighbour Pakistan.
“Modi’s visit to Houston comes ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly in New York and amid a particularly tense time on the subcontinent.The Indian leader further strained long-simmering relations with Pakistan last month by revoking the partial autonomy enjoyed by Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both nuclear-armed countries claim. Modi’s move has been met by international criticism.Pakistan has condemned the crackdown and its Prime Minister Imran Khan warned it would drive more of the world’s Muslims into extremism.Members of India’s religious minority Sikh and Muslim groups planned noisy demonstrations near the stadium to protest Modi’s Kashmir policy.”Brad Brooks and Steve Holland, Huff Post
‘Trump Plays the Warm-Up Act to Narendra Modi’: The Economist
The Economist, in its report on the Howdy, Modi event, said that what was new about hosting the Indian prime minister this time was that the US President was ready to serve a “warm-up act” to PM Modi.
“At this one Donald Trump, who usually expects to dominate events where adoring, fired-up crowds roar their support, smiled awkwardly as the stadium chanted ‘Mo-di, Mo-di’.”The Economist
Quoting Milan Vaishnav, from the think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Economist report said that it was like a nice diplomatic coup for PM Modi. Vaishnav told The Economist that “India and America have reached a new level and that Indian-Americans are becoming a force to be reckoned with and therefore to be flattered.”
The report said, it was a massive turnaround for Modi who was denied a visa to the United States for a decade because of his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
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