For nearly 25 years, through five U.S. presidents, Washington and New Delhi moved in lockstep. Strategic, economic, and security ties deepened in what many saw as proof that India had finally cemented its place in America’s global game plan.
Then came Trump 2.0 - and the script flipped.
Tariffs. Tough talk. Diplomatic whiplash. In a matter of months, the carefully built foundation of U.S.–India ties is showing cracks.
Delhi and Washington’s policy circles are still trying to decode the sudden turn. But one voice cut through the noise: Fareed Zakaria. His blunt warning? Trump’s India policy may be “the biggest strategic mistake” of his second term.
Here’s why. America cannot contain China’s rise alone. It needs India — the only other Asian heavyweight that’s democratic, dynamic, and increasingly willing to play a bigger role. Break that trust, and Washington weakens its own hand in the Indo-Pacific. Short-term trade skirmishes are no substitute for long-term strategic alignment.
For India, the lesson is sharper still. America’s unpredictability is a reminder that “strategic autonomy” isn’t just a slogan. It’s currency. Today’s disruption won’t end the partnership — but it shows how fragile things can get when personal politics trump institutional commitments.
The question now: Is Washington willing to risk its best bet in Asia for a few tariff points?
