“O Modi- I feel it… I’m a YUGE fan of your Agni II Missile…” (via Hindustan Times)

Any objective observation of Washington in 2017 reveals a cross-aisle dysfunction and hatred which have risen to legendary levels even by the swamp’s constipated standards over the Potomac River of time.  The word ‘bipartisanship’ is now a cruel joke, and most Americans don’t even remember what that word even means.  It’s not our fault.  Whether it’s immigration, law enforcement, healthcare, taxes, foreign policy, women’s rights, or education. agreement between Republicans and Democrats- voters or politicians- on any major issue not only doesn’t exist, it isn’t even allowed by party leadership.  The partisan wounds have had their scabs ripped off.

The shooting of a sitting Congressman at a softball game, a tragedy which should have brought Americans together, instead predictably devolved into a partisan Mexican standoff between the gunfuckers and gun control advocates.  Quaint 20th century stories circulate about genteel lawmakers from both parties sharing shrimp salad and a scotch with their spouses, and we laugh at those hazy Washington recollections as they fade from institutional memory.

Yet there is one area on which the sides are in complete agreement, even lockstep (shockingly).  It also so happens to be the area of my expertise.  Yes, improving US-India relations is today a bipartisan priority- and probably the only bipartisan priority we can manage to come up with.  Democrats, Republicans.  Governors, Representatives, Senators, Trump, Pelosi, Ryan, McConnell, Sanders, Tillerson, and Schumer all agree that India should be a better friend.  Even Nikki Haley stumbled into a good idea, by advocating India’s permanent entry onto the UN Security Council. US politicians are falling over themselves to say nice things about India.  As did Obama and his entire cabinet.  Trump has repeated the mantra of India’s friendship himself.

It’s not hard to see why.  A closer relationship with India is critical for America’s corporations, national defense, anti-piracy counter-terrorism efforts, immigrant diaspora, universities, and balancing against China.    Trump, who is on a mission to crush all other aspects of Obama’s legacy at all costs, has embraced Indian Prime Minister just as Obama did.

There are several factors at play making the current environment conducive to closer ties.  Chinese saber-rattling.  Modi’s open arms to both US political parties and all corporations.    US exasperation with a failing Pakistani state.  A crumbling Europe.

The situation with all other friends is much more fluid: Trump has bashed Australia and Mexico, distrusts Germany, is jealous of Canada’s Justin Trudeau, has a bizarre male-dominance complex with France’s Macron as demonstrated by creepy handshake rituals.  He is afraid to visit the UK, the indispensable US ally, because they will protest him there.  Meanwhile, relationships with China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia are all over the map- from inexplicable, to chaotic, to bipolar schizophrenic level dangerous, and worse.

via Asian Defense News

The only functional and steady bilateral and bipartisan relationship in Trump’s America is with India.  There’s a bipartisan agenda of substance, as demonstrated by Malabar 2017, the largest US-India-Japn trilateral naval exercise ever conducted.   And this scrap is the last uneaten morsel left on the table of bipartisanship after the attack dogs have ravaged all else.  This is a good thing.

Mahanth S. Joishy is Editor of usindiamonitor