This week’s South Asia Brief touched on how U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s foreign-policy cabinet picks could affect the next White House’s approach to South Asia.
Shortly after Trump’s victory on Nov. 5, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that “today, a lot of countries are nervous about the U.S. … We are not one of them.” Among Trump’s cabinet picks are some of Washington’s biggest proponents of partnership with India—as well as China hawks and Pakistan critics.
This week’s South Asia Brief touched on how U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s foreign-policy cabinet picks could affect the next White House’s approach to South Asia.
Shortly after Trump’s victory on Nov. 5, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that “today, a lot of countries are nervous about the U.S. … We are not one of them.” Among Trump’s cabinet picks are some of Washington’s biggest proponents of partnership with India—as well as China hawks and Pakistan critics.
Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security advisor, co-chairs the India Caucus in the House of Representatives. His choice for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, introduced a bill in July that calls for deeper defense ties with India and mandates that the secretary of state track cases of Pakistan aiding anti-India militants.
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, tapped to be director of national intelligence, has long expressed her support for India and is also Hindu—factors that likely prompted Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to take the unusual step of congratulating her before Senate confirmation hearings begin.
These picks bolster earlier predictions that his administration will embrace the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, launched during Trump’s first term and intended to counter China. The next White House will likely accord relatively little priority to relations with Pakistan, though it may increase pressure on Islamabad to ease up on its alliance with Beijing.
This post is part of FP’s ongoing coverage of the Trump transition. Follow along here.
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