Highlights – Trump is moving from branch to branch, while Modi is moving from leaf to leaf.
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This is the third time Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained distance from US President Donald Trump. Modi was invited to attend the Gaza Peace Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, but India is represented at the conference by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. Earlier, while returning from Canada, Modi did not stop in the US despite Trump’s invitation. PM Modi also skipped the United Nations General Assembly meeting. India was represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif represented Pakistan.
Indeed, Trump’s behavior toward India in recent times cannot be justified. Therefore, it is not surprising that during his meeting with Modi, Trump might make comments that could make him uncomfortable. However, with many prominent world leaders attending Sharm el-Sheikh, sending a Minister of State for External Affairs is inappropriate. In addition to Trump, prominent global leaders such as Egyptian President Abdel al-Sisi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are attending the peace conference, as well as heads of state from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Qatar, and Jordan.
What Shashi Tharoor Said – Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticized the government on this issue. He said that when dozens of countries have sent representatives at the level of their Prime Ministers and Presidents, such low-level representation from India could diminish our voice and limit our reach. However, he also clarified that this is not a question of individual competence, but rather a matter of sending a strong message.
It is true that Modi recently spoke with Trump by phone, but America’s strict policies regarding tariffs and visas remain in place. Trump’s claims of preventing an India-Pakistan war continue. Trump’s refusal to receive the Nobel Prize has further infuriated him. Trump’s behavior has consistently made India uncomfortable. Recently, US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor met with PM Modi and expressed that Trump considers him a “great and personal friend.” However, given the way Trump is portraying himself as close to Pakistan, their friendship cannot be trusted.
It is also being said that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be accompanying Trump to this summit, and Trump may attempt to bring the two countries closer. This situation could make the Prime Minister uncomfortable. It is believed that this is a well-thought-out decision by Prime Minister Modi. By doing this, he wants to send a message to Trump that what he is doing is not right.
