Trump's Backspedaling on Tariffs Causes Headache in Delhi; Sparks SCO and China Shift

In the complex world of international politics, the India-US relationship has undergone a significant transformation over the past few decades. This transformation, marked by a growing strategic convergence, has seen the view that Americans need to be distrusted starting to ebb.

During the presidency of George W. Bush, the relationship with India was described as a "close relationship," although the exact quote and date are not available. Bush emphasized strong ties with India as part of U.S. foreign policy in the early 2000s. This shift was evident, as Washington DC appeared to favour New Delhi over Islamabad, irrespective of the presidential tenures of Barack Obama, Donald Trump (first term), or Joe Biden.

Secretary of state Hillary Clinton noted in a Foreign Policy article that "India's Look East policy and our Look East policy are starting to converge," indicating a closer working relationship between India and the US in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. This convergence was further strengthened by President George W. Bush's description of India as a "natural ally" of the US.

However, the India-US relationship has not been without its challenges. Mr. Trump's presidency, in particular, has been marked by tension. He has weaponized trade, tariffs, immigration policies, and brazen threats of sanctions, causing friction in the relationship. The jilted leadership in Delhi found themselves in a difficult position, negotiating behind the scenes with Washington DC while putting on a brave face publicly in response to Mr. Trump's actions.

Spin doctors have even gone so far as to demonize Mr. Trump to such an extent that they see merit in India mending relations with China, with the bloody summer of 2020 and the India-China clashes in Ladakh's Galwan largely forgotten. This shift towards China is being seen as a counter-move by some, with the Indian leadership's unusual interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) being bandied as the new "masterstroke."

The geopolitics of the Cold War often resulted in frosty relations between India and Washington DC. This was particularly evident during the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars, when the United States was perceived as "anti-India." The United States even signed a mutual defense treaty with Pakistan in 1954.

However, the demise of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s saw India emerge as a different spotlight, with the rise of religion-based terrorism and the dramatic rise of China. This period also saw the installation of a nuclear-powered device atop the Nanda Devi mountain in 1965, allegedly done jointly by the CIA and India, remaining a matter of conjecture.

Conspiracy theories about American malintent towards India were common, with political opponents being labeled as "CIA agents." Unsubstantiated rumors about the PL-480 (US Food for Peace Programme) providing contaminated food to India became folklore. There were also concerns about American-imposed sanctions over India's nuclear program, while the Pakistani nuclear program was overlooked. Pakistan was given a long rope due to its strategic interests in Afghanistan, which irritated India.

Negotiations following the sanctions after Pokhran-II (1998) by Vajpayee and Jaswant Singh with the American government turned the tide in the India-US relationship. The top executive office remains silent, exactly the same way it refrained from calling out "China" explicitly after the June 2020 conflict.

As the India-US relationship continues to evolve, it is clear that it has come a long way from the suspicious and frosty relations of the past. The future holds promise for a deeper and more strategic partnership between the two nations.

Trump's Backspedaling on Tariffs Causes Headache in Delhi; Sparks SCO and China Shift