India-US Trade Agreement Was Waiting to Happen, Says Futurist Vimal Singh
In Lucknow on Tuesday, renowned futurist and political strategist Vimal Singh declared that the recently announced India-US trade deal was an inevitable development that had been waiting to happen. His comments came just one day after US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the significant announcement, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Validation of Earlier Predictions
"It validates my earlier prediction that India–US relations were poised to enter a decisive new phase driven by economic compulsion rather than political charity," Singh emphasized. He elaborated that this development clearly demonstrates the United States "did not do India a favour" but instead acted out of strategic necessity in the current global landscape.
Recalling his initial assessment that faced considerable scepticism, Singh stated, "From the very beginning, I had said the US needs India more than India needs the US in the current global economic war." This perspective has now gained substantial credibility with the formalization of the trade agreement.
Potential Next Steps: H-1B Visa Concessions
Looking toward future developments, Vimal Singh predicted that concessions for Indian professionals within the H-1B visa regime could represent the logical next progression. "The US technology and services sectors cannot function without Indian talent. Some softening of visa norms is inevitable," he asserted, highlighting the indispensable role of Indian expertise in sustaining American technological leadership.
Characterizing the tariff reductions as "a good game for Trump" and simultaneously a strategic victory for India, Singh pointed out that the true significance lies in how India's economic relevance has become central to global power equations. "Those who doubted this shift are now watching it unfold in real time," he added with emphasis.
Era of Economic Warfare and Strategic Recalibration
According to Singh's analysis, global politics has now entered an unmistakable era of economic warfare, where multiple factors are forcing major powers to reconsider their international alliances:
- Employment crises creating domestic pressure
- Supply chain disruptions affecting economic stability
- Growing domestic unrest in various nations
He specifically pointed to widening social and economic fault lines within the United States—including unemployment pressures and deepening community divisions—as key drivers behind Washington's strategic outreach to India.
Multi-Pronged Diplomacy and India's Unique Position
Singh also noted President Trump's simultaneous engagement with multiple global power centers, including Japan, Germany, the European Union, and New Zealand. He identified this as part of a broader strategy to counter Chinese influence without triggering open confrontation—a approach he had previously flagged as significant.
Highlighting Prime Minister Modi's calibrated diplomacy, Singh praised India's ability to maintain working relationships with the United States while keeping communication channels open with both Russia and China. "India has emerged as the only major power capable of balancing all sides without becoming a liability for any," he observed.
In contrast, he noted that neighboring nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh have increasingly become strategic burdens for Washington, unable to offer the same balanced approach that characterizes India's foreign policy.
China's Calculated Approach and Regional Stability
Regarding China's position, Singh suggested that despite ongoing rivalry with India, Beijing would likely avoid destabilizing the relationship due to several compelling factors:
- Massive Chinese investments throughout South Asia that require stability
- Growing realization that prolonged conflict benefits no regional power
- Lessons reinforced by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict about the costs of escalation
This analysis presents a comprehensive view of why the India-US trade agreement represents more than just a bilateral arrangement—it signifies a fundamental shift in how economic necessity is reshaping global alliances and power dynamics in the 21st century.
