The US presidential elections results assume significance against the backdrop of the launch of joint Malabar Naval exercise by India, USA, Japan, Australia in the Bay of Bengal off the Kerala coast.
The battle between Democrat Joe Biden and the Republican Donald Trump in nine key states turn crucial for key allies and opponents of the USA, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. It comes at a time when the warships and aircrafts from the four quadrilateral (Quad) nations kicked off the strategic Malabar naval military exercises in the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday.
The USA, India and Japan are carrying out the joint Malabar naval exercise, with Australia joining after a 13 years gap. The joint exercise is meant to send a clear message to China, which is trying to flex its muscles over the land and sea in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Republican Trump administration has unleashed a slew of measures to deter Chinese policies giving a fillip to the Indo-Pacific region alliance among the democratic nations in the region. Reason being, the US sees that the Chinese antics and optics are meant to oust its presence from the Indo-Pacific region. Thus, to prove that its economic and military might is greater than that of the USA. Though not a part of the Quad nation, the latest ones that are adopting a similar line of Trump’s internal and external security policies are France and Austria. But, for different reasons its citizens are being targeted- by pan-Islamic groups.
In the US presidential results so far declared, the democrats and republicans, each have registered victory in 20 states. However, it is the former Vice-President Joe Biden, who so far established a clear lead bagging 238 electoral votes against the incumbent President Trump securing 213 electoral votes.
Out of 50 states, each won 20 states securing more than 50 per cent of electoral votes. Now, the battle is narrowed down to key nine states to cross the 270 electoral votes mark to enter into the White House. The current trends show that the Democrats have won in the states of California, New York, Illinois, Virginia, Washington, Minnesota, Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Maryland, Connecticut, New Mexico, Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Delaware, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Colombia.
Similarly, the Republicans have their sway in Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Utah, Nebraska, Mississippi, Idaho, West Virginia, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Alaska. On the other hand, in the six states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada, the Democrats are leading. But the battle is not over as they continue to struggle to get a clear majority against the Republicans in a close contest.
Similarly, the Republicans have bagged more than 50 per cent of the electoral votes in the six states of Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Texas and North Carolina. The polled percentage of votes in each of the above ten states ranges from 76 to 96 per cent. This has left the Indo-Pacific nations to keenly observe the developments with bated breath.
Because the results on completion of the remaining rounds of counting of votes might swing the victory either way. And, it will have a huge impact on the Indo-Pacific nations on the security and foreign policy dealings with the USA beginning 2021.
The winning of Democrats is seen heartening for China, Turkey, Pakistan and their allies. The victory of Joe Boden is seen a sigh of relief by China, with which the Trump administration is at logger’s head on several fronts. Besides, trying to contain its expansionism in the key maritime trade routes in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian seafronts.
However, countries like Japan, Australia and India will have to wait and watch whether they need to have a relook and recast their foreign relations in dealing with the new US Administration.
Because, these countries have been on the same page for the last four years striking a common ground on the issues of trade, security, foreign relations, the United Nations etc. In particular, dealing with China.
Thus, the change of guard that comes along with who wings majority in the 110 electoral votes in nine states would lead these countries to strategize dealing with the USA in the near future. Winning more than 50 per cent of electoral votes is crucial for Democrats and Republicans in the states of Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Reason being, these five states contribute 88 electoral votes out of the 110 total electoral votes spread in nine states for the results to be announced.
