- People closely following the fortunes of the two largest democracies in the world, viz. India and the United States of America would have noticed how the great bonhomie showcased between the two leaders nosedived on the back of Donald Trump’s tariff war unleashed after assuming office. What was turning out to be a visibly easy and comfortable personal rapport between PM Modi and President Trump overnight appeared to have lost its sheen, rendering the carefully cultivated strategic relationship between the two countries on a different tangent altogether. Of course, Trump gravitating towards the Pakistani military-dominant government, soon after the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, further widened the chasm.
PC: PBS
- To its credit, the Indian leadership didn’t yield to Trump’s bullying tactics to open the market, much to the detriment of the local farmers. Going by the events of late, Trump appears to be open to fixing ties with New Delhi. Both leaders have made earnest efforts to ease the tensions of the last few months. Yes, it’s still early days, but US ambassador-designate Gor’s meeting with Modi over the weekend signalled the possibility of a thaw in bilateral ties. Mind you, it’s rare for the PM to meet an ambassador before the person has assumed office. Gor also came bearing the message of strengthening the India-US partnership, particularly in critical minerals, the supply of which China is again looking to squeeze. Modi had also praised Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan last week.
PC: India Today
- Indications are that a trade deal between the two countries, the main bone of contention, is close. True, given Trump’s mercurial nature, he is capable of changing his mind anytime. However, there are also reasons to believe that Washington now realizes that New Delhi is not going to buckle under the pressure of tariffs. After all, India is in the right here. It was willing to negotiate on all trade matters, including working towards a consensus on the import of Russian Oil, which the previous Biden administration had asked to buy. The additional 25% tariff for importing Russian oil was totally just Trumpian pique. India also played it smart by messaging a show of force with other BRICS members. Hence, Trump’s pressure tactics possibly did not work much.
PC: ThePrint
- Further, now that the award of the Nobel Peace Prize has passed, Trump might start listening to some of his more rational advisers. It’s because he was so obsessed with the prize, pushing claims about stopping seven wars, including, ridiculously, the India-Pakistan conflict in May, that Trump took umbrage at New Delhi’s vehement denial of his involvement in the summer ceasefire. This made him inclined to tariff hawks like Peter Navarro and Howard Lutnick. Now that things have settled down on the Nobel front, Trump may be more open to listening to steadier voices like Marco Rubio. At the end of the day, India and the US both benefit from a productive relationship. Our long-term strategic visions for a stable, rules-based international order align. Fingers crossed.
