Developer handling real estate magnate

With Trump in 'Da House', there is much speculation that India-US ties that have blossomed, especially since the US-India nuclear deal during George W Bush's and Manmohan Singh's tenure, could shift to a more transactional form of diplomacy. The Biden sarkar had further strengthened this institutionalisation with the Modi administration. Even in its final weeks, Biden had US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) remove three Indian entities - Indian Rare Earths, Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) - from its 'Entity List', which specifies the licence requirements it imposes on each listed entity. This move marked a significant step forward in bilateral collaboration, particularly in clean energy and advanced scientific research. Now with Modi's 'dear friend' whom he congratulated on Monday back in the saddle, will this happy trajectory continue? Or face 'America First' wobbles in its flight path?

Renewed geopolitical competition should drive continued collaboration between India and the US in developing, deploying and safeguarding critical technologies, from AI to biotech to space. GoI and state governments, along with India Inc, must capitalise on this partnership to boost R&D and secure supply chains critical for a transitioning economy. Building capabilities and capacities in the economy must remain top priority.

New Delhi can also draw on this approach to solidify its position and expand its sphere of influence as a leading voice in the developing world by fostering partnerships based on complementarity. Given Trump's 'China sounds via Taiwan' and Musk's growing prominence as presidential CEO, India would be wise to make proverbial hay while the sun shines.