Several former U.S. officials are urging the Trump administration to recognize and remember the fundamental importance of the U.S.-India relationship, cautioning against actions that could damage ties and potentially push India closer to its adversaries. These warnings come amidst growing tensions between the two nations, fueled by trade disputes, tariff policies, and what some perceive as a shift in geopolitical priorities.
In a joint article for Foreign Affairs magazine, former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell from the previous Biden administration, emphasized India's role as "one of the United States' most important global partners". They cautioned that current tensions risk "a split that would be difficult to mend" and advised the Trump administration to draw "New Delhi closer, not push it away".
Sullivan and Campbell highlighted that the U.S.-India relationship has "remained vulnerable to misunderstandings, missteps, and missed opportunities because of lingering distrust and misaligned expectations". They also expressed concern that the current trajectory could lead the United States to inadvertently drive India "directly into its adversaries' arms". They proposed a 10-year "strategic alliance" between the two countries, built upon mutual commitments in technology, defense, supply chains, intelligence, and global problem-solving. They stressed that such an alliance wouldn't require a traditional mutual defense pact, recognizing that both India and the United States are "proud and independent countries".
Echoing these concerns, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has sounded the "five-alarm fire" on what he sees as Trump's actions "destroying" the U.S.-India partnership. He criticized the imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25% levy on New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil, as undermining 30 years of bipartisan efforts to strengthen the alliance. Khanna also pointed to Prime Minister Modi's refusal to nominate Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize while Pakistan did, which has seemingly led to strained relations. He argues that Trump's actions have essentially pushed India back toward Russia and closer to China, undoing decades of diplomatic efforts.
John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor, has also weighed in, claiming that the once-strong personal relationship between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi "is gone now". Bolton suggests that Trump views international relations through the lens of his personal relationships with world leaders, but warns that such ties won't shield them from his unpredictable foreign policy decisions.
Despite the current challenges, some observers remain optimistic about the potential for a revamp in U.S.-India ties. Campbell and Sullivan noted that "Donald Trump's theatrics are often the prelude to dealmaking". They suggest reimagining the relationship with a focus on "five pillars of strength": a 10-year action plan in key technologies (artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotech, quantum, clean energy, telecommunications, and aerospace), enhanced economic cooperation including a bilateral trade agreement, and refraining from hyphenating relations with India and Pakistan. They emphasized that U.S. diplomacy has been heavily weighted toward New Delhi for a reason, as Washington's multifaceted interests regarding India's future far outweigh its interests in Pakistan. The partnership is crucial for India, especially given the presence of an "unaccommodating power in China on its border".
