Strain in India and the US Relations

It seems India and the United States’ (US) honeymoon period has ended. Analysts are raising questions if it is a blip in relation between India and the US or a shift towards changing political weather. It’s been six months when Narendra Modi called the relation of India and the US, “Mega relation.” Narendra Modi was the second leader who visited the US after Trump assumed the office. However, the strain in relations was imminent as Trump had asserted in his election campaign that India was a difficult place to do business. He also slammed India in his tweet by calling her a “trade abuser.” It was India who miscalculated the Trump’s policy. India’s thought of staunch partner of the US faced backlash when Trump imposed 25% of tariffs on import of India’s goods. It has been understood by many of the countries that Trump’s policy was economic oriented rather than strategic. Trump’s did not value the India’s strategic partnership to counter China. Furthermore, the relations between India and got strained when Narendra Modi refused to the US to give her access to agriculture and dairy sectors. One of the reasons of deteriorated relations is India’s Oil trade with Russia amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump called both countries as “dead economies” as well. Furthermore, Trump hates India’s rhetoric of strategic autonomy. India’s refusal to accept the fact that Trump has brokered peace deal between India and Pakistan also deteriorated the relations between India and the US. Trump had asserted dozen times that he had played great role in making peace between India and Pakistan, but Narendra Modi repudiated Trump’s claim. If Narendra Modi will accept tariffs, he faces backlash at home. On the other hand, if he accepts Trump’s presence in India’s agricultural sector, he will lose farmers trust and vote. Right now, both countries are in strained relations.