Trump vs. China: How Trump's Return Could Reshape South Asia’s Future - Video

On January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump will take oath as the 47th president of the United States of America. Trump’s return has raised apprehensions about how the US will approach the world, and regions like South Asia which have become a crucial part of the Indo-Pacific. Over the last four years, South Asia has seen a significant shift with the DC moving beyond its Af-Pak lens and pushing back against China by expanding its presence throughout the region. The Biden administration maintained a versatile policy, ranging from collaboration with Delhi in Sri Lanka and Nepal, to having an independent policy with Bangladesh. However, with the change in administration, unpredictability looms large. This unpredictability comes at a time when South Asia itself is going through transformative changes- relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are currently at their lowest point ever, with strikes and counterstrikes on both sides, the interim government in Bangladesh has failed to evince the confidence of all the countries with concerns about the safety of minorities persisting, and Myanmar continues to witness a dreadful civil war. Others like Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal are struggling with their economic difficulties, and continuing to balance India and China.

What does Trump 2.0 mean for South Asia? As the tensions between China and the US continue, do you see the US Indo-Pacific policy gaining more traction? How will it affect the India-US cooperation in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region? How will Trump's return impact the economic, political, and geostrategic space of South Asian governments? What should countries in South Asia expect? Will Trump’s China policy impact India-China competition in the region?

Speakers:
Michael Kugelman, Director, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, USA
Nilanthi Samaranayake, Visiting Expert, United States Institute of Peace, USA
Prerna Bountra, Deputy Director, Ananta Aspen Centre, India
Vivek Mishra, Deputy Director – Strategic Studies Programme, ORF, India

Moderator:
Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India

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