Ties between India and the United States have become increasingly strained in recent weeks as the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff for its continued purchase of Russian oil. Top aides have also held New Delhi responsible for ongoing ‘bloodshed’ in Ukraine — claiming that India was indirectly financing the Russian war and being a “laundromat for the Kremlin”. The growing rift has now prompted a warning from former US Ambassador Nikki Haley and calls for “hard dialogue” between the two countries.
‘To face China, US must have…’
“India must take Trump’s point over Russian oil seriously, and work with the White House to find a solution. The sooner the better. Decades of friendship and good will between the world’s two largest democracies provide a solid basis to move past the current turbulence. Navigating issues like trade disagreements and Russian oil imports demands hard dialogue. But, we should not lose sight of what matters most: our shared goals. To face China, the United States must have a friend in India,” she wrote on X.
Haley also shared an opinion piece she had written for Newsweek to underscore her point — insisting that the “most urgent priority” for the US should be to “reverse the downward spiral”. The former diplomat also warned that the Trump administration was reaching a “troubling inflexion point” in its ties with India. She had also cautioned the US government against allowing trade tensions to derail a partnership critical to countering China.
‘Too much ordering, pressuring, and pushing around’
Multiple former US officials — including ex-NSA John Bolton and former Secretary of State Kurt Campbell — have voiced concern in recent weeks as the Trump administration became increasingly critical of India. They have repeatedly criticised his handling of India relations — warning that the newly implemented policies could alienate a key ally and perhaps push New Delhi closer to Russia and China. Obama-era US Secretary of State John Kerry also took a sharp swipe at Donald Trump on Friday — contending that there had been far too many ultimatums issued in recent months.
“We are concerned. This struggle between President Trump and PM Modi is unfortunate. Great nations don’t necessarily exhibit greatness by giving people ultimatums all the time without sort of a genuine diplomatic effort to try to find common ground and do things through the normal course of business…There has been a little bit too much ordering, pressuring, and pushing around,” he said during the ET World Leaders Forum.
(With inputs from agencies)