Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 20: Strategic experts in the United States have raised serious concerns over President Donald Trump’s recent policy decisions that may strain ties with India, warning that such moves could undermine a key partnership crucial for countering China’s growing global influence.
According to a report published in Eurasia Review on Saturday, former senior US officials Kurt Campbell and Jake Sullivan, in an article for Foreign Affairs, cautioned that “the only thing harder than building and formalising a deeply significant relationship with India is not having one.” Their remarks come amid escalating tensions between the US and India, especially after Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Indian oil imports from Russia.
The report highlighted that this move, seen as punitive towards India, comes at a time when Washington has simultaneously deepened its engagement with Pakistan, a long-time strategic rival of India. Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also warned that harming US-India relations would effectively grant China a free hand, particularly in light of Beijing’s expanding alliance with Moscow.
“Tensions have recently surfaced in the US-India relationship, particularly after President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on India over its oil purchases from Russia. By penalizing India for purchasing Russian oil while strengthening ties with Pakistan, the US risks alienating one of its most important partners—and undermining India’s long-standing relationship with Russia,” the report noted.
Analysts argue that such inconsistencies in US foreign policy risk widening the trust deficit between New Delhi and Washington. This could have serious implications in the Indo-Pacific, a region critical for global security and trade. The report warned that if India and the US drift apart, both nations could lose strategic influence in the Indian Ocean region.
The report also contrasted Trump’s hard stance on India with his comparatively lenient trade deal with Pakistan, which included preferential tariffs and support for oil exploration without any requirements to curtail ties with China. Experts claim this imbalance has emboldened Pakistan, allowing it to adopt a more aggressive posture toward India.
Further strain in the relationship reportedly emerged following Trump’s controversial decision to host Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, at the White House after the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in India. During his US visit, Munir allegedly made provocative remarks, stating, “If Pakistan goes down, it would take half the world down with it,” at a meeting in Tampa, Florida—remarks that drew sharp criticism from the international community.
Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin criticised the US administration’s engagement with Munir, calling him “Osama bin Laden in a suit” and accusing Washington of misjudging the ideological roots of terrorism.
The report underscored that India has been a consistent US ally since the end of the Cold War, playing a pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific strategy. Former President Barack Obama had called India an “indispensable partner,” particularly within the Quad alliance, which aims to serve as a counterweight to China’s influence in the region.
Until recently, India and the US enjoyed a close and cooperative relationship. However, experts now warn that trade disputes and diplomatic missteps could jeopardise years of strategic progress between the world’s two largest democracies at a time when global alliances are being redefined.