Navigating the High Stakes of US-India Relations Under Trump

As Donald Trump marked his first 100 days as US President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an early visit to Washington, DC, to navigate critical issues like tariffs, immigration, and defense. This visit, along with subsequent gestures from both sides, demonstrated a willingness to address contentious issues and promote a multi-faceted relationship. Despite a recent reprieve from tariffs, the question of trade remains a major concern. Meanwhile, a brutal attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir posed a significant challenge to the relationship's momentum.

Key Takeaways:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, DC, on February 12 was one of the first by a national leader after Trump's inauguration, indicating an early attempt to foster a positive relationship.
• Modi's government had already signaled a willingness to address Trump's obsession with tariffs by reducing tariffs on American products, including the Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
• The Modi government accepted Indian illegal immigrants deported by the Trump administration and maintained a studious silence on reports of their shackling during flights.
• The Trump administration's new Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, visited India in late March, highlighting the administration's interest in working with India on issues like intelligence sharing and counterterrorism.
• The Vice-President J D Vance's visit to India in late April aimed to boost US-India trade and defense cooperation, despite a brutal attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir.

Statistics:

• India reduced tariffs on a range of American products, including the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle, to curry favor with Trump.
• The Trump administration imposed an overall tariff of 27 per cent on India on April 2, only to pause them for the next 90 days due to significant global backlash.
• Vice-President J D Vance's visit to India was aimed at boosting US-India trade and defense cooperation, with a focus on reducing tariffs and increasing defense sales.
• The brutal attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir, reportedly carried out by the Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization, poses a significant challenge to the US-India relationship.

Sources:

• Sumit Ganguly, Senior Fellow and Director of the Huntington Program on US-India Relations at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.