On 20 January, US president elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office as the 45th president of the United States. Trump’s assumption of office is a very closely watched development across the world, given his penchant for a disruptive agenda—his declaration that the US is not necessarily bound by the “One China policy," and his assertion that if Russian president Vladimir Putin likes him it’s an asset—the Trump phase of US politics promises to be turbulent globally and bilaterally.

For India, it could mean trouble on the visa front and on trade and intellectual property rights issues. But Trump was rather positive on India, Indian Americans and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the US presidential election campaign, saying that if he is elected president, “the Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House". He guaranteed that.

A look at some of Trump’s statements on India so far, a day ahead of his inauguration as US president.

■ “We’re going to create jobs. I said that I will be the greatest jobs producer that God ever created. And I mean that, I really—I’m going to work very hard on that." —Trump on US job creation, 12 January 2017

■ “You can’t allow policies that allows China, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, India. You can’t allow policies that allows business to be ripped out of the United States like candy from a baby." —Trump on the outsourcing business, 23 April 2016

■ “I look forward to working with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been very energetic in reforming India’s bureaucracy. Great man. I applaud him... —Trump on PM Narendra Modi, 16 October 2016

■ “I am a big fan of Hindu. I am a big fan of India." —Trump on India ties, 16 October 2016

■ “(The India Pakistan conflict) is one of the great conflicts in the world right now. Hopefully everything will work out but there is tremendous conflict between India and Pakistan. There has been for quite some time. Just recently you had a lot of people killed." —Trump on the India-Pakistan conflict, 16 October 2016

■ “If I’m elected President, the Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House. That I can guarantee you." —Trump on the Indian community in the US, 16 October 2016

■ “I’m involved in two massive developments in India…and that is because I have great confidence in India. Generations of Indian and Hindu Americans have strengthened our country…your values of hard work, education and enterprise have truly enriched our nation." —Trump on India business ties, 16 October 2016

■ “You have to get India involved ... They have their own nukes and have a very powerful army. They seem to be the real check ... I think we have to deal very closely with India to deal with it (Pakistan)." —Trump on the Pakistan threat and how only India can address it, 24 September 2015

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