The world has seen the rise of democracy in the United States with joy. Joe Biden has been sworn in as president and Kamala Harris as vice president, opening the door to a new era of hope.
Biden’s inauguration speech began with the declaration that this was the day of democracy. Given that the wounds inflicted by his predecessor Donald Trump on democracy and the credibility of power are so deep, it is certain that Biden and his team will have to work very hard to heal those wounds. Therefore, as soon as he took office, Biden was busy revising Trump’s controversial orders and issuing new ones. He said in his inaugural address that the unity and spirit of the country would be restored. Promising to ensure opportunity, dignity and pride for all, Biden has called for an end to hatred, racism and domestic terrorism.
This transfer of power to the new era that the US was waiting for was not smooth. Despite Biden winning the election with a clear majority, Trump’s failure to accept the result was an insult to the country’s democratic tradition. The Capital Rebellion has become the scourge of America. But the democratic system in the US has overcome all these challenges and handed over power. The sharp poetic justice of history can also be traced to the fact that Trump became the first U.S. president in the 21st century to fail a referendum on succession.
Kamala Harris, who has family roots in Tamil Nadu, is the Vice President of India. Kamala goes down in history as the first woman Vice President of the United States. The Indian community, at least one percent of the U.S. population, has a proud representation in the Joe Biden administration. Of the 20 nominees of Indian descent, 17 have held senior positions in various departments in the White House complex. Most of them are women.
Within hours of Biden taking office, Trump had proved to the world that he would open the door to the US. Orders to re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization are a handshake with the New World. On the first day, the new president signed 17 decree orders, including the lifting of travel bans from Muslim-majority countries, the freezing of funding for the construction of the US-Mexico border wall, and the Prevention of Racism Act in Government Institutions. Biden’s first steps to control the Covid epidemic and to revive the economy should be seen as an introduction to the future regime.
It is to be hoped that even if the US regime changes, there will be no change in defense and diplomatic cooperation with India. India-US relations, which have improved over the past few years, will continue. What attitude the Biden administration will take towards Pakistan is crucial. Improving US relations with Iran are good for India in the oil market and elsewhere. Biden’s stance on Russia may be reflected in India-Russia defense cooperation. The changes Trump has brought to Asia and the Middle East are likely to continue. There are also expectations, including cooperation with the Gulf states and Israel. The policy of the Biden-Kamala group in the areas of immigration, employment, visa and green card should be considered to be beneficial to India.
Content Highlights: Joe Biden and American democracy
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