The success of Howdy Modi is a reaffirmation of India’s global impact and its growing soft power in the world

The USA loves India”, tweeted American President Donald Trump as he enthusiastically shared the Indian Prime Minister’s Offices’ message thanking and applauding the energetic presence of the huge Indian diaspora at Houston, to mark the successful celebration of the Howdy Modi event. The strength and show of personal chemistry between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump at Houston does mark a watershed moment in Indo-US relations.  As Modi called for a standing ovation for Trump from the 50,000-strong Indian-American community, he also thanked the American people for their “exceptional welcome and hospitality” during his visit to the US.

Beginning from the meeting between former US President Obama and Modi in 2014, to the first-ever trilateral engagement between India, Japan and America in 2018, the leadership of both the countries has reaffirmed the importance of strong Indo-US ties. There is a greater set of convergence between both the nations, ranging from a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region to the fight against global terrorism.  Over the years, the relationship between these two mature democracies has evolved significantly, which is not subject to any kind of “transactional framework” and rather is witnessing a more robust “strategic alignment.”

India has sought to transform itself from being a “balancing power” to a more “willing state” in redefining its priorities in the international system. The same is reflected in India’s active public diplomacy in the last few years, seeking increased global footprints with an emphasis on the nation’s soft power attributes and civilisational strengths. This includes emphasis on yoga, spiritualism, peace and harmony. It also involves capitalising on the strength of the Indian diaspora. The Indian-American community has been one of most successful in driving the advanced technological revolution in the US.

Modi’s charismatic and popular leadership appeal and its hyper-energetic diplomacy have backed this process in recent years across the globe.  The Howdy Modi event was an expression of the same desire and objective. The soft power credential of India is now backed by hard power choices in terms of strategic alignment and tactical diplomacy in foreign policy-making under his leadership.

In the last few years, the Indian Government has sought to build on developing new linkages in Indo-US relationship. The Declaration of Friendship to elevate strategic dialogue to a strategic and commercial dialogue in January 2015, the Joint Declaration against Combatting Terrorism in September 2015, developing International Solar Alliance in 2016 and the initiation of the 2+2 Dialogue between India and the US are some key developments which define the nature of bilateral relations in recent years. Indo-US defence ties have also seen an increased level of engagement. In 2016, the two governments signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and in 2018, the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA). It enabled India access to US technology and utilisation of its existing platforms. Today, India is a major defence partner of the US, and there has been a significant amount of increase in military hardware imports to the country. Moreover, after a gap of nearly eight years, the Cope India exercise between Indian and American air forces was organised.

Nonetheless, bilateral relations still face limitations on the trade front as market access has been a key issue of contention. However, Modi pitched for US investment support as India looks to build a $5 trillion economy. While Modi reassured Trump that he was learning from the President the “art of the deal”, it remains to be seen how both the leaders surmount difficulties in bilateral trade negotiations.

On the global level, these developments do pave the way for a greater understanding and better institutional cooperation. More importantly, the developments in the Indo-Pacific have come with their own set of challenges that underline the necessity of cooperation. The meeting of foreign ministers from India, the US, Japan and Australia expressed their commitment to strengthen “rules-based order” in the Indo-Pacific.

At his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Modi highlighted the importance of global action to fight against terrorism; climate change and healthcare challenges.  The visit in his own words has been an “extremely productive one”, as he engaged with a wide and different set of people from industry to diplomacy; civil society; business communities and political leaders. To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Modi invoked his vision for peace and prosperity for all at the inauguration of the Gandhi Solar Park. In his meeting with leaders from Pacific island nations, he underlined India’s commitment to advance their development priorities.

The show of political warmth and trust between both the leaders shall lead to something more tangible in terms of trade negotiations and cooperation. This will allow them to set more long-term objectives for commercial and trade engagements.

As both India and the US seek to consolidate on gains from this comfort in relationship, it is necessary that both move beyond the framework of a “top-down approach” and seek to institutionalise this “strategic alignment” at different levels to make it a more cogent and structural partnership in the future.

 (The writer holds a PhD in East Asian Studies from JNU and teaches at Delhi University).