Donald Trump unleashed a slew of executive orders just
minutes after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of
America for a second term, following his dramatic comeback to the White House
by defying impeachments, criminal indictments and assassination attempts. Some
of the significant executive orders signed by the 78-year-old Republican are
withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organisation
(WHO), the ending of birthright citizenship, rollback of transgender protections,
plans to increase oil production, pardoning of about 1,500 individuals
reportedly involved in the attack on the US Capitol in 2021 and crackdown on
immigration, to name a few. While his ‘America first’ approach will give many a
reason to cheer for, there are more reasons than one to worry about. For
instance, pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which calls for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, will weaken the movement to tackle global warming,
while exiting the WHO will have a severe impact on the funding of the UN
agency’s initiatives. Trump’s expansionist agenda, including ‘taking back’ the
Panama Canal, has also sparked worry. But he appears to be emboldened by the
convincing victory in the 2024 presidential election, as indicated in his
inaugural speech and bold policies. However, some of his controversial
executive orders, including the scrapping of birthright citizenship, a
constitutional right enshrined by the 14th Amendment, will face legal
challenges, and it has already begun.
For India, Donald Trump’s second innings hints at a possible
bittersweet experience. Modi, in his congratulatory message to Trump, whom he
called a “dear friend”, expressed hope for “working closely together once
again, to benefit both our countries, and to shape a better future for the
world”. While India has reasons to be optimistic considering the significant
progress made in bilateral ties between the two countries over the years and
the good rapport Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares with Trump, there
are also reasons for New Delhi to be watchful as uncertainty and
unpredictability loom large in the wake of Trump’s unprecedented moves. India
can heave a sigh of relief for now as Trump has not slapped major tariffs
against its trading partners but it could be just a matter of time before
measures are taken to address US trade challenges in line with “America first”
policy. The clampdown on immigration will also pose a significant challenge to
many countries, including India, while the exit from the Paris Climate
Agreement can affect the emerging economies in the effort to transition towards
green energy. Amid uncertainty, the US will be expected to continue to act as
an agent of peace and not fear.
