South Asia and Trump: Times of India

Donald Trump, intent on winning reelection as US president and avoiding corruption investigations, is doubling down on “America first” policies and transactional foreign policies. “America’s foreign partners will now more than ever be evaluated on whether they help or hurt his election outlook,” explains Nayan Chanda in his column for the Times of India. Chanda is the founding editor of YaleGlobal Online. To fulfill some campaign promises, Trump requires help from foreign leaders. Some like China’s Xi Jinping refuse to play along, others show deference. Trump is eager to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan before the election, but that requires dealing with Taliban extremists who reject the legitimacy of elected Afghan government and preventing Islamic State or Al Qaeda intrusion. Pakistan’s Imar Khan could help, but now uses “India’s move to abolish Kashmir’s autonomy as a pretext for dragging his feet,” Chanda writes. Trump, perhaps underestimating the animosity between Pakistan and India, has suggested he could “mediate.” All parties recognize the US president's bottom line: trade packages favorable to the US and an Afghanistan that appears peaceful enough for his Republican base. – YaleGlobal