Are Modi, Obama rushing things because of Trump? This NYT article says so

Washington, June 8: Are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama rushing things fearing an unpredictable Donald Trump administration taking over the White House early next year?

Well, an article published in The New York Times on Tuesday (June 6) thinks so.

According to the article titled "Narendra Modi Bolsters India's Ties With U.S., Thanks (Partly) to Donald Trump", Modi wants to set aside all differences and grow closer ties with the US partly because Donald Trump, who could succeed Obama as the next US president, "may not share President Obama's enthusiasm for India". [3 reasons why India-US relation is flourishing under Modi like never before]

"The news media in India has extensively chronicled comments by Mr. Trump that critics have said were racist, his "America First" views and his unorthodox campaign. While Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has said little about India, his vows to tighten immigration policies worry Indian officials," said the NYT article. [India, US ink 8 agreements]

Experts are of the opinion that Modi is trying to extract as much as he can in Obama's remaining tenure. A new American president will take over on January 20, 2017, and it could either of Trump and Hillary Clinton---who is seen to be more friendly towards India.

The NYT article also said that from the American perspective, the most significant aspect of Modi's visit is his announced aim to formally join the Paris climate change agreement by the end of 2016.

The pact will become mandatory when at least 55 countries representing 55 per cent of global emissions formally join it. India's inclusion would guarantee that the pact would go into effect before the 45th US president assumes office, the article said. India, it can be said here, is the third largest emitter after China and the US.

The concern for New Delhi will be Trump's wish to "cancel" the Paris climate pact if he becomes the president. Obama, however, is trying hard to make sure that it doesn't happen. Once the pact comes into effect, no country can legally withdraw for at least four years.

"If the Paris agreement achieves ratification before Inauguration Day, it would be impossible for the Trump administration to renegotiate or even drop out during the first presidential term," the NYT article quoted Robert N. Stavins, director of the environmental economics programme at Harvard, as saying.

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