John Bolton goes: On the sacking of U.S. National Security Advisor (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Major changes in USA foreign policy in recent years

Context

• Recently, the US National Security adviser has been removed from the office by the President. In this presidential term of Donald Trump, three NSAs, two secretaries of Defence and one secretary of state have been asked to step down.

Key changes in the USA foreign policy

• The USA foreign policy have perceived following major changes since 2017;
• Hostilities with Iran
• Sanction on Russia
• Trade war with China
• Talk with North- Korea
• The US exits from the Human Rights Council and UNESCO.
• The outgoing NSA of the USA is considered for the abovementioned shift in the USA policy.
• The USA was in the process to get the Taliban to accept the ceasefire but it failed, on the other hand, there is no sign of a better relationship with North Korea.

Form India’s perspective

• On the bilateral front, India must build its strategic and economic relationship with the U.S. with a keener eye on the transactional thinking that now prevails in Washington.
• As Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the U.S. this month, with a plan to meet the U.S. President, it may be best to keep in mind the words of Mr. Pompeo, a contender for the NSA position; asked about the impact of Mr. Bolton’s exit on U.S. foreign policy, he said the only person who determines who works for Mr. Trump, and what that means for the policy of the U.S., is Mr. Trump himself.
• India would do well to not allow its bilateral relationship with the U.S. or other relationships to be determined by such a fluid dynamic (by the dynamics of the Trump regime).

Way ahead

• However, the secretary of state has indicated a major shift in the US policy towards Iran. He mentioned that the US President may meet Iran President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the United Nation General Assembly session in New York. But this is something Israel does not want.
• In this unpredicting situation, on the bilateral front, India must build its strategic and economic relationship with the U.S. with a keener eye on the transactional thinking that now prevails in Washington.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Common Services Centers (CSC) scheme is one of the mission mode projects under:
a) Digital India Program
b) Ayushman Bharat Yojana
c) Skill India Mission
d) Atal Pension Yojana

Answer: A
Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the reasons behind India must not allow its ties with the U.S. to be dictated by the dynamics of the Trump regime?