When Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out on his trip to the US to meet President Donald Trump, there were sceptics who were pointing out Modi’s ‘friendship’ with former President Barack Obama. They were doubtful about how Trump would react. But the electric chemistry that evolved between Modi and Trump at the White House belies those apprehensions. Trump has declared that he was a “true friend” of India. Trump’s remarks have given more power to Indian diplomacy. On the eve of Modi’s Washington visit, the US declared United Jehad Council and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as an “international terrorist”. This has raised the hackles of those in Pakistan who were eulogising Salahuddin as a “freedom fighter”. There have been protests in Pakistan against this US move. At a different level, the country that is most wary of Indo-US friendship is China. The US has openly backed India’s position on China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, and China is worried about it. A Chinese diplomat has commented that India should not harbour the illusion that it can “sideline” China by befriending the US. The aggressively anti-Indian Chinese policy is now being reflected on the normally peaceful Sikkim border, where Chinese soldiers have smashed Indian bunkers and openly tried to transgress the border. China has also stopped the travel of Kailash Mansarovar yatris, in a clear attempt at needling India on a sensitive religious issue.

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