MY KOLKATA EDUGRAPH
ADVERTISEMENT
regular-article-logo Friday, 22 November 2024

Kamala's loss to Trump is verdict on Biden: Ex-diplomat says Ukraine aid harmed Democrats

Voters were not in favour of America sending 'so much money by way of military aid and economic aid' to Ukraine in war with Russia, says the former Indian diplomat

PTI New Delhi Published 06.11.24, 04:12 PM
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, clasps her hand in the air with President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, clasps her hand in the air with President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. PTI

With Donald Trump all set to become the president of the US, a former Indian diplomat on Wednesday said the election outcome was also a verdict on incumbent President Joe Biden.

Interacting with PTI here, India's former ambassador to Italy, K P Fabian, also suggested that Trump would like the "Ukraine war to be over".

ADVERTISEMENT

The run-up to what has been described as one of the closest US elections in recent times, saw Republican nominee Trump, 78, and his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris holding packed rallies and firing fierce verbal volleys against each other.

Asked about the outcome of the US election, Fabian said, "Though Kamala Harris was the candidate, it was also a verdict on (Joe) Biden. Because, she was the Vice President and Biden nominated her. So, partly, she was carrying the Biden burden in respect of the economy."

And, with prices going up, especially of gas, and for Americans who roam all round in their cars, this is very important, he said.

Many US voters counted immigration, border security, gun control laws, reproductive rights and foreign policy as factors weighing on their minds in this election.

Fabian said the Russia-Ukraine war and the West Asia conflict may have been a factor that might have influenced voters' decisions.

"Ukraine war, you may say majority of Americans support Ukraine, but it doesn't follow that Americans want a big war. And, that America should be sending so much money by way of military aid and economic aid," he said.

Military aid doesn't matter because the money remains in America, selling weapons. But in economic aid, the money goes, the former diplomat said.

"And... the war in West Asia, Biden made a mistake...," Fabian argued.

He felt that Trump would like the war in Ukraine to be over, and that it would be weighing on his mind even before the Inauguration ceremony in January next year.

The former ambassador recalled the bitter campaign and some of the words used by Trump in it that also stoked controversies and drew sharp reaction from the Democratic camp.

"He has a style which Americans like, it substantial number of them like it," Fabian said.

On the impact on India-US ties, Fabian said, "Coming to strategic relations, Trump will be supportive of closer relationship with India."

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT