Business Partner, Strategic Partner and Friendship-some reflections in recent context.

               I don't know whether ‘Distancement’ is a word let alone a diplomatic term. However if the word is not proper or doesn't exist as a diplomatic term as such, it needs to be coined and given currency as a distinct policy choice.

                 It's because of the situation found to have been deliberately caused by Trump ever since he assumed the oval office for the second time with self-confidence that appears to be more a ruse than it being something real and permanent. 

The way Trump has been acting in the name MAGA(Make America Great Again) diplomacy is a blatant demonstration of the attempt to make diplomacy devoid of decency and also display power with hubris. 

           Trump's altercation with Ukrainian President Jelenski to reach a dictated ceasefire with Russia, his brawl with his ally now turned foe Elon Musk and his exit from the Department of Government Efficiency(DOGE) left agape many world leaders and the people at large across the globe watching the incident with interest.

           Repatriation of the illegal immigrants alighting with their hands cuffed on the indian soil, unilateral declaration of mutual tariff, and a series of other steps including pressurising american companies like Apple not to set up its production unit in India, pressure tactics upon american universities for adopting discrimination of sorts for immigrant students studying there are indicative of things that must be taken note of in shaping our policy towards America.

 

         President Trump should not forget that America became great in the past by way  of being the largest economy, riches, science & technology by welcoming talents from across the world.

 He should appreciate the fact that a country can't be made great again by "shoo away tactics."

            America forgets that a majority of the nobel laureates of science is not of american origin, similarly a majority of capable and qualified doctors are of non-american origin, mostly from India. 

       Examples are umpteen and citing them will be mere time and space consuming.

        

            Our experience has shown that a number of visits to America has not borne the fruits expected of such bilateralism.

 

             Rather Trump’s false attempt to take credit for the ceasefire following Operation Sindoor is something that has not gone well with the Indian people and leaders alike.

 

The situation that followed Operation Sindoor put inter alia Indian diplomacy also to test. 

               It has shown that not only China but countries like Turkey which gave support overt and covert to Pakistan. Turkey the beneficiary of the "Operation Dost" acted inimically to the Indian interest during 'Operation Sindoor'. 

               I suppose Operation Sindoor has been an eye opener for India in more senses than one. 

               It exposed not only Pakistan but also the intent without involvement of many countries and institutions including the IMF funding pakistan during such operation. 

              For future Indian diplomacy must take note of all the reactions,speeches or the studied silence of countries that India has any concern with anyway in anyform.

              This is not to suggest that India cease interaction with them but what is desired from Indian diplomacy that it should cease expand its friend list which can be likened to the facebook friend of an individual who takes pride in seeing friends of eminence or fame in his facebook friend list while most of them being of no use when any help or support is needed from them.

                In the light of the above discussion I hold that the term friendship doesn't exist in international relations.

In fact, the term Friendship can't be a diplomatic term. Both are mutually exclusive propositions.

            At best any such international relation between the two countries can first be described as a business partner. 

           It's too long a path to tread to become a strategic partner. And of course the path of friendship is the longest to tread; but this requires mutual faith where self-interest is only next to the friend’s need. 

In the Ramcharitmanas, the true character of a friend has been described as-

जे न मित्र दुख होहिं दुखारी । तिन्हहिं बिलोकत पातक भारी।।

निज दुख गिरि सम रज करि जाना। मित्रक दुख मेरू समाना।।

(जो लोग मित्र के दु:ख से दु:खी नहीं होते, उन्हें देखने से भी बड़ा पाप लगता है. अपने पर्वत के समान दुःख को धूल के समान और मित्र के धूल के समान दुःख को सुमेरु पर्वत के समान समझे)

आगे कह मृदु बचन बना‌ई। पाछे अनहित मन कुटिला‌ई।।

जाकर चित अहि गति सम भाई।अस कुमित्र परिहरेहिं भलाई।।

(जो सामने से तो बना बना कर कोमल वचन कहता है और पीठ पीछे बुराई करता है तथा मन में कुटिलता रखता है -हे भा‌ई जिसका मन साॅंप के चाल की तरह टेढ़ा है, ऐसे कुमित्र को त्यागने में हीं भलाई है.)

सेवक सठ नृप कृपन कुनारी। कपटी मित्र सूल सम चारी।।

(मूर्ख सेवक, कंजूस राजा, कुलटा स्त्री और कपटी मित्र- ये चारों कांटे के समान पीड़ा देने वाले हैं.)

Clearly friendship requires sacrifice which in diplomacy is anathema.

R.R.Prabhakar.

11.06.2025.