Country First vs. Change we Can Believe In: The American Presidential Elections and What it Means for India

With both U.S. Democratic and Republican party presidential tickets settled, the rest of the world can finally make a haphazard guess at what the next four years of American foreign policy has in store. As far as policy towards India is concerned, the candidate's positions run the gamut from McCain and Biden's frequent pontifications on the civilian-nuclear deal and free trade, to Sarah Palin's non-entity.

Although India has already cast its vote in this election, the nation must ask itself whether an Obama presidency would truly be in their best interests. The answer largely depends on what type of a Vice-President Joe Biden turns out to be: will he be a Dan Quayle style lame duck, or more in the Dick Cheney mould (no, not that Dick Cheney, THAT Dick Cheney.)

As Sarah Palin has no foreign policy experience to speak of, the Republican party's tickets stance on India is essentially John McCain's stance on India. McCain is a staunch supporter of the civil-nuclear deal in the U.S. congress, as well as a virulent free-trader. Unlike Obama, who has exhibited a protectionist streak during the campaign season, McCain has always maintained that the U.S. should keep their markets open to Indian goods and services. McCain has also openly called for India's inclusion into an expanded G-8 club. He has also called for an increase in the quota of U.S. visas to skilled Indians.

Although McCain, Obama, and Biden initially all voted in favour of the civilian nuclear deal, both Obama and Biden had major reservations regarding the deal. Obama's greatest concern with respect to India seems to be on resolving the virtually intractable Kashmir issue, while giving little thought to the civilian nuclear deal aside from expressing reservations.

Commentators in India have welcomed the Obama-Biden ticket, largely focusing on Biden's Indophilia. However, a Democratic White House's stance on India depends heavily on how much influence Biden can exert on his superior. Obama has displayed a populist protectionist streak on the campaign trail that could hurt India if Obama chooses to pander to interests fearful of increasing competiton from the sub-continent. To all the concerns of the civilian-nuclear deal in India, Obama also adds his own set of concerns, that could render the deal dead in the water if it is not finalised before the end of this year and the Democrats reclaim the White House.

Obviously, India-U.S. relations extend far beyond the issues discussed above, but as far as the presidential campaign season is concerned, these are the issues that will probably be most salient with respect to India. As far as who would be a better U.S. president for India, the answer largely depends on how much influence Biden can exert on his superior. As Biden was seemingly chosen for his considerable foreign policy experience, the outlook is positive for India and the sub-continent regardless of who becomes the next president of the United States.