Why India may be Donald’s trump card The US pivot to Asia has been almost a decade in the making. But for the past 2 decades, the more significant development has been the Indian pivot to the US. This change of direction, after almost 1/2 century of “tilt” towards Russia, has meant that on a geopolitical level, India is quietly reorienting its approach to reflect the growing convergence with the US.

How defence partnership ringfences ties between India and US Expansive defence cooperation has been and will continue to be, the lodestar of wider India-US ties. Consider this: starting virtually from scratch, US has notched up Indian defence deals worth $20 billion for aircraft, helicopters and howitzers in just the last 13 years, managing to displace India’s long-standing military supplier Russia for a few years.

NEW DELHI: US First Lady Melania Trump doesn’t eat nuts, President Trump enjoys seafood, and daughter Ivanka , who converted to Judaism before her marriage to Jared Kushner, follows a kosher diet. These are just some of the instructions given to the ITC Maurya staff awaiting the arrival of the Trumps, who are likely to be welcomed with a floral rangoli pattern.While the hotel is tightlipped about security and other arrangements, TOI has learned the entire hotel has been booked for the President and his entourage. No outside guests will be allowed over the next three days.Trump will stay at Chanakya, the grand presidential suite spread across a 446 sq m mansion. The suites have hosted Bush, Clinton and Obama , ooze opulence with a peacock-themed 12-seater private dining room, a bathroom with mother of pearl fittings and a mini spa and gym.The decor has an Indian touch too with eminent artists on display. It has a business courtyard and boardroom to discuss important affairs in complete privacy.The suite has been the choice of many luminaries in the past as it is among the few in the country fitted with bullet-proof glass, a presidential parking boulevard, an exclusive entry to the hotel and a private high-speed elevator. Even the air is rarefied, with the AQI kept on a par if not better than the World Health Organization standards.While the President during his whirlwind trip is not likely to spend much time at the hotel, he may dine at the famous Bukhara restaurant. However, Trump is travelling with his own team of chefs. With security agencies having cordoned off the hotel, even its dining areas will be out of bounds for guests over the next three days. The hotel did not confirm any details of the President’s engagement due to security reasons.Keeping the security situation in mind, some rooms have also been blocked at the nearby Taj Palace hotel. While the hotels did not confirm, TOI learned that during the days of Trump’s visit, these hotels are “sold out” and no booking is possible in either of them.Lack of availability in these popular properties have led to a surge in booking in luxury hotel properties in central Delhi, but these have been asked to tighten security and double the levels of checking for new guests. Some hotels, it is learnt will only allow guests staying in the hotel to go in and out of property, and no attendants or friends will be allowed over the next three days.