President Donald Trump’s approach towards India coupled with his repeated endorsement of Pakistan undermined India-US relations painstakingly built over two decades a report cited on August 14
According to a report by the International Centre for Peace Studies the India-US relationship once hailed as a defining partnership of the 21st century suffered significant damage due to President Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric towards the region. The report highlights that Trump’s actions went well beyond imposing tariffs and economic measures as they “repeatedly and deliberately” challenged India’s core national security concerns especially on sensitive issues surrounding Kashmir.
The Trump administration’s approach of publicly endorsing Pakistan particularly at a time when US-India trade relations saw escalating tensions contributed to the deterioration of trust between the two nations. Trump’s frequent 25 percent tariff impositions on Indian goods and his criticism of India’s defence procurement and energy imports from Russia were seen as unilateral and confrontational moves in New Delhi.
Moreover Trump’s rhetoric on Kashmir and national security issues struck at the heart of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The report states that this consistent undermining strained diplomatic efforts that had been carefully cultivated by previous administrations with the aim of fostering strategic cooperation in counterterrorism defence trade and regional stability.
Underlining the broader geopolitical context the report points out that the weakening of bilateral ties during Trump’s tenure contrasted sharply with India’s growing closeness with the United States before and after his presidency. It also emphasises the lasting impact of Trump’s policies on shaping public perceptions of the bilateral relationship both within India and the US.
Indian government officials have since reaffirmed their commitment to strong India-US partnership despite the setbacks acknowledging the necessity of navigating complex issues with strategic autonomy and mutual respect.
