How A 'Desi' Kamala Harris Presidency Could Impact Future Of US-India Relations

Last Updated:November 05, 2024, 10:48 IST

A potential Kamala Harris presidency could strengthen U.S.-India ties through economic, security, and cultural cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speak during a lunch held in his honor at the State Department in Washington, U.S., June 23, 2023. (Reuters)

With the US presidential election looming on November 5, attention is turning to how Kamala Harris’s potential ascension to the White House could reshape the trajectory of relations between New Delhi and Washington.

While many analysts predict continued stability in American policy, the US Vice President’s background and approach to diplomacy may lead to distinct shifts in the dynamics between the two strategic partners.

Kamala’s India Link

One of the most talked-about aspects of a potential Harris presidency is her connection to India. Born to a mother from Tamil Nadu, Kamala Harris has often highlighted her Indian heritage. However, it is important to note that her political identity has primarily been shaped by her African American roots.

Harris’s visits to India as a child and her familial connections to the country provide a unique cultural backdrop for her presidency, but her engagement with India’s domestic and international issues has been limited. While her Indian heritage might lead to a more empathetic approach toward India, Harris’s tenure as US Vice President has seen limited focus on the country.

Strategic Partnership

Under the outgoing Biden administration, the US and India have strengthened strategic ties, particularly through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region. This focus, implicitly aimed at China, is expected to continue under a Harris presidency.

If Harris ascends to the presidency, her foreign policy is likely to closely mirror that of her predecessor. During Biden’s tenure, US foreign policy has leaned heavily toward multilateralism, internationalism, and strategic alliances aimed at countering global threats like China and Russia.

However, Harris’s administration may also face tensions in dealing with India’s relationship with Russia, especially in the context of the ongoing geopolitical challenges related to the Ukraine war. As a democratic nation, the US has been critical of Russia’s actions, while India, a longstanding partner of Russia in defence and energy sectors, has maintained a more neutral stance.

Despite this, Harris is expected to maintain Biden’s policy of deepening defence cooperation with India. The Biden administration has facilitated some access to US military hardware and technology – a trend likely to persist under Harris, continuing efforts to bolster India’s security through technology transfers and joint military exercises.

Economic Relations

On the economic front, a possible Harris administration would likely maintain the economic trajectory set by Biden’s tenure. While Biden’s administration has been focused on resolving trade disputes and expanding economic ties, Harris is expected to take a more trade-friendly stance toward India compared to her Republican rival, Donald Trump, whose administration had imposed tariffs and focused on transactional policies.

Harris, like Biden, is expected to foster strong economic ties with India, especially in sectors such as technology, energy, and pharmaceuticals. Her stance could benefit Indian skilled workers, with a probable increase in H-1B visa approvals for professionals from India – a policy that had seen a decline under the Trump administration.

Diplomatic Challenges

Harris’s presidency could also bring some challenges to bilateral relations, particularly regarding the human rights bandwagon pursued by Democrats in the US. Her statements on Kashmir in 2019, for instance, were seen as more aligned with her political views than with a nuanced understanding of India’s political landscape and current ground realities.

Shalabh Shalli Kumar, US industrialist and founder of the Republican Hindu Coalition, this week slammed the Democratic nominee, saying that her policies are “anti-Indian" despite her being a Hindu and having Indian roots. Rebuking the Democratic candidate’s views on Kashmir, Kumar said that her focus on “so-called minority" issues, suggesting that it could strain diplomatic ties between the two nations.

“Kamala Harris has radical views on Kashmir and India will have to be conscious. They will still raise the issue of so-called minorities, so-called Muslim minorities, every time Joe Biden gets a chance and every time Kamala gets a chance, Kamala will be even more enhanced- Oh, Prime Minister Modi and the BJP in India are persecuting minorities," he told ANI.

‘Desi President’

Despite this, Harris’s connection to India’s vast diaspora in the US could help cement stronger ties, particularly in the areas of cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges. The Indian-American community is one of the fastest-growing and most influential ethnic groups in the US, and Harris’s background could strengthen the bonds between the two countries.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said a “Desi President" would help boost the relationship between the US and India, owing to her connections to India. The Indian American lawmaker said the polls are going to be an extremely close contest. However, Krishnamoorthi said, he thinks that Kamala is going to “prevail" ultimately.

“But as you know, we’re going to be looking at six or seven states very closely on election night. Some of those results may not roll in entirely on election night. We’re also going to have to be patient as votes get counted," he told ANI. Krishnamoorthi also discussed how a Kamala Harris presidency would differ from a potential second term for Donald Trump. He said that if Trump were to return, his presidency would likely be marked by a transactional approach to foreign policy, where public disagreements over trade and market access would need to be balanced with strategic priorities.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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