The relations between India are comfortable. Will Trump’s immigration plans spoil friendship?

As Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State Freshly swore, grabbed the hand of Indian Foreign Minister for Photo OP last Tuesday, the symbolism was clear.

It came in front of the first biotheral meeting on the first day at the office, suggesting that the diplomatic relationship between the US is the main priority for both sides.

Even more striking is Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, first and foremost an intimate inauguration of Donald Trump last week, which was moved indoors due to cold weather hit by Washington.

“The special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is naturally treated very well,” said Jaishankar, an Indian Foreign Minister, with a smile at a press conference on Thursday, when asked about his headquarters.

He also said after his meetings at DC that it was “very clear” that Trump’s administration was a “bilateral relationship” with India.

Indian officials have been preparing for the new American administration for months, and despite the obvious friction points, such as immigration and trade, the New Delhi view was cautiously optimistic.

But Trump’s threat to vigorously pierce illegal immigration and forcing mass deportations causes uncertainty, with great potential for political consequences in India.

The country is one of the best sources of unfathomable immigrants to the United States. According to The latest Estimates Pew Research Center725,000 Indians live illegally in the US, making immigrants from India third on the list, behind Mexico and El Salvador.

On Monday, Trump spoke with the Indian Prime Minister, in what the White House called a “productive” call, and the president later told reporters that India would “do what is right” when it comes to returning those who live in the US illegally

Analysts say that Indian officials have successfully set out to the ticklish weeks after the inauguration, which not only did Trump sign the executive commands focused on illegal immigration, but still threatened with steep tariffs.

“I am struck by how well I think India has played its hand,” said Milan Vaishnav, director of South Asia Program on DC based at DC, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“They do and say the right things to the extent that this president is concerned,” Vaishnav said, calling the approach of the Indian government “proactive”.

He pointed out the reports that India would reprise 18,000 Indians who live illegally in the United States to place Trump, with sources speaking to Bloomberg That New Delhi wants to show a willingness to work with the new administration to avoid a trade war.

The Indian government has not confirmed these accurate numbers, but officials have repeatedly said that the country is open to facilitating the return of unfathomable immigrants after checks have been made.

“We are against illegal immigration,” said Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the Indian Foreign Ministry. “We have a continuous dialogue about this issue with the United States,” he said. “And the idea behind it is to create more ways for legal migration.”

Many Indians legally enter the US, but then excessively after the expiry of the visa, while others illegally cross the border from Canada or Mexico.

Trying to ‘come to his good side’

There are also media reports that the Government is considering other measures to calm the new president, from the imports of more US products from Republican red or swing states to reduction of tariffs on items such as bourge and bakery.

Trump has long seen Indian high import taxes and protectionist stripes as problematic, and all the new tariffs could mutilate the growing economy of southern Asia.

“I don’t think the mood in Delhi is to get involved in the Tit-Za-Tat exchange [on trade]”Vaishnav said.” They believe that Trump allowed his fast victory on the board, making some pretty less concessions, I can try to come to his good side. ”

Fashion also has a close personal relationship with Trump, Since the Indian Prime Minister calls him “my dear friend” While congratulating the new president, which he swore to for a second term.

The Indian Prime Minister will visit now in February, Trump confirmed.

The key goal of India is to protect the status of H1B visa for qualified migrants to the United States, which is mainly used for those in technology or engineering and an important path for many Indian workers who seek better opportunities.

There is currently a turbulent discussion among the various fractions of Trump’s party on the matter, with some strenuous nationalist Republicans intimidating visas for qualified workers who do well deal with Americans.

Chinese factor

The second concern for India is how much Trump’s plan on China could change.

Confusion of Chinese aggression is the main reason why the relations between India and the US have been deepened in recent years, and the Biden administration has invested various efforts to encourage relationships. Even charges of An attempt by extrajudicial murder on US soilAnd a later court case, they did not interfere with a firmer relationship between the two countries.

In the sign that this closeness would continue with the new president, he ruined the Minister of the Foreign Diplomatic Association known as Quad – USA, India, Japan and Australia – on the first day in power. In recent years, a quadrilateral has increased as a means of blocking Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

The fact that the meeting happened so quickly as the victory of Jaishankar, who told reporters that he had gained “strong sense”, Trump’s administration wants to continue to take the quadrangular and intensify his activities, which is also something New Delhi would like to do.

The second plus for India is that most Trump’s team, including Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, is known as “either Indian or passionate cinema Hawks-Payzate fertile for further progress,” wrote Seemma Sirohi, journalist and author Friends with Benefits: The Story of India-US.

According to Sirohija, the India-US ratio “entered into a comfortable space where the blockages of the road are mostly supporting.”

But among Indian creators, politics still has a fear of Trump’s unpredictability and whether his admiration for strong menu – which extends both in fashion and Chinese XI Jinping – could lead to the US president to try to approach China.

“They seem to be annoyed by Trump. They are much nervous about someone like Elon Musk, who has huge business interests in China, and there seems to be a president’s ear,” Vaishnav said.

“I think it sends shivers down the spine of diplomat in India.”

New Delhi reduced any nervous anticipation in the months that led to Trump’s inauguration, and Jaishankar and other officials showed that they were sure they could manage the complexities of the new administration.

Shortly after the election last fall, Jaishankar told reporters: “I know, today many countries are nervous about the US, be honest about it: We are not one of them.”

Vaishnav said that, although some of this can be excessive confidence, he believes that Indian officials are holding the fact that India is not on Trump’s list of so -called “problems with problems”.

“There is a feeling that this is not an administration that came to teach India a lesson,” he said. “And I think it gives [Indian policymakers] some comfort at this point. “