PM Modi in US: When strong leaders break ice, optics do matter

“We are both determined to destroy radical Islamic terrorism” – that was the most important takeaway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi from US President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. on Monday. Straightforward, meat & potatoes, a clear message to Pakistan and other nations exporting, propagating terror in the name of Islam. It was a call to action, and not diplomatic messaging – the ‘Trump effect’ on America’s South Asia policy.

The rest might have been optics, but when world leaders meet for the first time optics becomes the Vernier Scale in international relations. From coming out on the porch with First Lady Melania Trump, to the hugs, to the effortless laughter (mind you, the President is not good at faking it), to the chatty atmosphere at the White House dinner — the optics that Trump served up were like the first monsoon rains after a summer of suspense in Indo-US relations. PM Modi is a natural. He broke the diplomatic ice with a “thumbs up” – the US president’s ‘insignia’ of sorts – and a quiet joke at the very West Wing entrance itself. Thereafter, things got easy and Trump’s body language changed completely.

The joint statement dovetailed into each other. “Both …read more