It is not surprising that in the diplomatic circles, a joke that while father S. Jaishankar could not get an entry pass for his boss, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but his son, Dhruv, who serves as the Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), America, a proxy of the Indian tycoon, Mukesh Ambani, has succeeded in obtaining an invitation for the Indian industrialist and his spouse to attend the inaugural ceremony of the new president, Donald Trump.
Modi, however, on Monday, January 20, 2025, congratulated ‘friend’ Donald Trump after he became the 47th US President on X. Modi’s post comes marking his remarkable return to power for a second term. Meanwhile, it was a little surprise or perhaps, intriguing, for the observers of the US-China ties that the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, who, earlier, had rejected the invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony, suddenly decided to send his vice-president, Han Zeng, to attend the function. Earlier, the Chinese foreign office at Beijing had told media persons that China would be represented by its ambassador in the US.
It is believed that the telephonic conversation between Jinping and Trump, just three days before the inauguration, appears to have softened the attitudes of the two world leaders. In this the crucial role of Elon Musk having close financial ties with China could not be ruled out. It is also stated that Zeng would be meeting his counter-part, J.D. Vance, and other business leaders.
Dhruv’s Role : Most of the defence and foreign affairs experts in New Delhi appear to be in unison that despite the much-talked about the American hard-line against China under the Trump Administration, there is a possibility of an unprecedented cooperation between China and US under the Trump’s second inning in the White House. For many, it may appear far-fetched, but with the growing assertive role of Elon Musk in the Trump Administration, the possibility of a closer US-China ties could not be ruled out. The two countries might soon be reinventing a new format for forging their much closer economic alliance.
Elon Musk, who manufactures Tesla, the electric car, is having a big unit in China, though dwarfed by China’s automaker BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle producer, hopes to regain the market share. It may be noted that BYD had overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest producer of pure electric cars in the fourth quarter of 2023. BYD’s sales were higher than Tesla’s by more than 20 per cent.
In this context, especially when Elon Musk, a key-player in the White House, it is hoped that people of Indian origin like Dhruv having thorough knowledge of the functioning of American establishment could be playing a crucial role, if engaged for promoting Indian interests. Earlier, it was being whispered in the diplomatic circles in New Delhi that the services and cooperation of knowledgeable people like Dhruv, who appear to have excelled many other lobbyists in Washington should be engaged, but now many experts of foreign and strategic affairs openly talk about seeking services of the knowledgeable persons instead of being solely depending upon the normal diplomatic channels. It is being recognized that the services of these lobbyists, who have successfully blended their thorough knowledge in the foreign affairs, international trade and diplomacy accompanied by a rare courage to face and succeed in the world of international lobbying, should be sought.
During the past six years, perhaps, since 2018, Dhruva has been working at the ORF America, a new DC-based institute affiliated with India’s ORF, an Ambani outfit. Being educated in the US and also having clarity in the international affairs, this 37-year old scholar offers a rare blending of knowledge of the world affairs, thus, getting respect and connectivity in the corridors of power in Washington. The inability of the foreign office to get an invite for Modi should be an eye-opener that we should complement our efforts by scholars and lobbyists.
It is true that we may not be able to get a person like Dhruv in our foreign service, who has become an American citizen. However, it may be noted that his grandfather, K. Subramaniam, known for his proximity with the prime minister, P.V. Narsimha Rao (1991-96), is remembered for framing India’s nuclear deterrent doctrine. It maybe recalled that India had detonated nuclear devices in 1998 after a secret dinner meeting at the residence of Rao attended by the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi and the then PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. For maintaining the secrecy, the American deep state, i.e. CIA never forgave Sonia and Rao for not sharing the crucial information.
The Indian diplomacy needs to be reinvigorated, because the country would continue to suffer, if it remained glued to the old medieval approach towards diplomacy. If the tycoons like Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk could be playing a strong role in the American administration, in India too the role of the billionaires in the politics should be recognized, says Professor K.C. Sharma, a political scientist. According to him, it is now an established fact that the West confides in people like Mukesh Ambani than any other civilian face in India. His presence at the inauguration of Trump in Washington should be considered beneficial for the country.
It is hoped that the political bosses in New Delhi would not hesitate in inducting scholars, businessmen and others in her diplomacy instead of being wedded to the conservative tradition of being represented only by career diplomats. The existing structure in the foreign office needs to complemented with new innovative talents, but it should be retained for the routine jobs. It is true that the present incumbent India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar enjoyed respect as a career diplomat, but now it is being recognized that he should have refused the political job, which needs a different set of responsibilities. It may be recalled that the founder of the Indian Foreign Service, Sir Girja Shanker Vajpayee, who had also served as a member of the Viceroy’s council in undivided India, a post equivalent to a cabinet minister, did not accept the position of cabinet minister. He had served as the Secretary General of the External Affairs Ministry under the PM Jawaharlal Nehru.
Gopal Misra has been associated with national and international media. His books on journalism and geo-politics have been well-appreciated. Views are personal.
