America’s withdrawal from the Paris climate change accord though may not affect Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting US President Donald Trump later this month but surely would have some chilling effect on Indo-US relations as Trump’s direct, no-holds-barred attack in which he accused New Delhi of trying to extract “billions and billions and billions” of dollars in foreign aid from the developed world to sign up for the climate accord. In this background as well as the US crackdown on guest worker visas first face-to face Modi-Trump meet may miss the bonhomie he had on his maiden visit during Barrack Obama’s presidency. The crackdown of guest worker visas is adversely affecting Indian businesses, its squeeze on US manufacturing abroad is forcing a scaling down of US investment in India, and now withdrawal from the climate change accord would affect India after previous administrations dragged New Delhi kicking and screaming into it. No other developed country has made that allegation, and in fact, the US stands isolated even in the developed world following its withdrawal. Trump was critical of India and China’s growing energy needs especially enhancing of coal production capacity. All this criticism comes in the face that the United States has the largest carbon footprint in the global community. Compared to the peanuts in US aid which New Delhi prefers is completely stopped, India buys $100 million worth of California almonds alone every year, besides billions in armaments. India also receives many times more in foreign investment and remittances than foreign aid so what makes Donald Trump to trumpet about India’s energy needs?
