General
India and the U.S. are longstanding partners. Their relationship is forged by democracy, pluralism, and freedom of speech, diverging upon few policies. Originally, this relationship was mutually easy to navigate across various departments, from education to space, with deeper bilateral ties than any other international relationship.
In recent years, the Republicans have remained more attached to India than the Democrats. In India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is more devoted to the U.S. than any other political party. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump are now locking horns over policy differences, especially on trade and tariffs.
The aim of Indian foreign policy is to safeguard Indian interests. It does not exist to save anyone’s artificial image. It must not support any individuals or their business entities. India is a big country, and our foreign policy should not be exercised in this way, especially with Washington. One step forward and two steps backward.
This essay shall analyze how Modi’s weak response to Trump’s assertive policies impacts India’s interest and our image in the international system.
From the first day of Modi’s administration, India’s foreign policy prioritized personal bonds, like hugging counterparts, conducting unnecessary foreign trips in the name of state visits, and frequent changes of the PM’s costumes as in a movie shoot. These attitudes neglected a strong policy foundation and so failed our general purposes. It sadly unveils the truth that the PM values his image above India’s policy interests.
In all of his foreign visits, Adani’s business proposals have been given more priority. For example, India’s blind support for Israel is also linked with Adani’s Haifa Port and its safety. It makes Modi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu friends. It is also why India did not raise her voice strongly against Israel’s attack on Iran.
However, Modi and India’s diplomatic circle did not realize our strategic mistakes.
This policy was previously exposed in the setback for India’s relations with Pakistan and China. The same problem has reoccurred with Trump. It is very clear that any personal friendship between counterparts in a high office cannot be an advantage in formulating foreign policy.
Courage is missing in conveying India’s interests to Washington. Our tone is very meek, even in reply to a simple tweet by Trump on his ‘Truth Social’ media platform—Modi responds in surrender.
“We have a weak prime minister,” says India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. India is under the thumb of the Trump team. Trump’s special trade negotiators are dictating to India. It is unfair. If they try to impose their intentions, it must not be achieved at any cost.
Unimaginable twists are occurring in India-U.S. relations under the Trump administration. India’s responses to the U.S. are not those of an aspirant major power.
Contrastingly, China and Russia’s solid interactions with U.S. relations provide the Modi administration with an excellent example to which they should aspire.
Trump’s “best wishes” upon Modi’s 75th birthday were appreciated. However, like a heavy downpour, he is assaulting India with policy measures that are not only damaging our relations with the U.S. but also beginning to seriously damage our economy and thus people.
Actually, 70% of the H-1B visas are enjoyed by the Indian technology workforce. Besides the general benefits of employing foreign workers, U.S. companies preferred to grant Indians this opportunity because of their commitment and sincerity in their hard work. Now Indian first-timers to the US have to pay $100,000 from 2026.
Moreover, due to Trump’s 50% tariff, around 10 sectors, including the textiles and gem & jewelry industries, will lose ₹2.17 lakh crore in Indian money. So says Indian National Congress’s Party (INC) General Secretary (in charge) for Communications Jayaram Ramesh.
However, the pharma industry escaped Trump’s anger because they have packing units in the U.S. Further, Trump had asked his counterparts in the EU to impose a 100% tariff on Indian goods.
Moreover, “Trump’s lifting of the Chabahar Port from exemption is a big setback to India’s strategic interest. The sanctions imposed by the U.S. mean all Indian companies now have 45 days to exit Chabahar or face the consequences of frozen assets” (thediplomaticinsight.com).
Further, the web page highlighted that “the sanctions, in general, affect companies’ ability to make global transactions.” What response has the Modi administration given to Trump’s administration?
In recent times the U.S. is becoming closer with Pakistan. Trump showed extra bonhomie with Pakistan’s prime minister and military general. India fails to thwart this and make Trump understand India’s concern within the fundamental nature of India’s prior relations with the U.S.
Therefore, those in higher authority within New Delhi are responsible for these deteriorating relations, a “new normal.”
Another point is that if they cannot even publicly refute Trump’s repeated claim that he was instrumental in effecting a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the recent conflict, they lack the mandate to continue in office.
And finally, the key issue here is that Modi is not conveying India’s interests to Washington with strategic precision. The trajectory has more flaws than clear goals. Without accurate targets, it lacks direction and harms India’s goals. Therefore, it is true that while India took one step forward, Modi’s foreign policy has pulled India two steps backwards.