The biggest concern regarding the US for India is about visas. But, that can be resolved through policy engagements, said Martin S Indyk, Executive Vice President, The Brookings Institution, a 100-year-old think-tank based in Washington DC.

The attitude of the Indian government towards the new US President Donald Trump seems to be let’s be patient, let him first settle down and then let’s start engaging with him. “I am not sure if that’s the right policy. India could be more active in trying to shape the policy. I do believe India and US have common interests,” he said in a discussion on “Trump’s Geo-political Agenda: what it could mean for India” organised by the Chennai International Centre.

Policy towards India has not yet been set in Washington under Trump. He has a few other things to worry about, Indyk said. When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Trump for the first time, which could be on the sidelines of G20 summit, he should focus on ‘process rather than substance.’ Trump is not in a position to address the substance. It would be much better at this stage for Modi to get advisors focus on issues by setting up a joint team and send an Indian delegation to Washington to engage in preparation for a bilateral summit and start the process on what issues should been on the agenda and what deliverables be on the issues that are important to India, he said.

The kinds of things that Trump said on NATO allies not doing their share or with South Korea or Japan, there is not a similar concern about India, he said. “This is the most unpredictable American leader. As a result, the world has no idea what he is going to do next,” he said.

Harsha Vardhana Singh, Executive Director, Brookings India, said whether it is on Russia or Pakistan, President Trump has a desire based on an incomplete analysis. Then he faces reality, he starts adjustment. Then he realises that desire cannot be fulfilled.

The kind of extreme positions that he took on Russia is a good example. In a few days of Presidency, he started to shift on that. But, then again, there is a pressure on him because of enquiry, he also reacts to that pressure to assert his own position and understanding, he said. On Pakistan, I don’t think he spends too much thinking about that country. During his telephone conversation with Pakistan Prime Minister, he spoke good things about that country but top priority was terrorism, he said.

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