By Tafara Pande
New Delhi — Six months after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the much-publicized warmth between him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is showing signs of strain. Despite their repeated declarations of friendship and past joint rallies, the United States and India are experiencing one of the lowest points in bilateral relations in decades, analysts say.
Trump has slapped a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports and threatened further penalties, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. He argues these oil deals help finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” Trump said Monday, warning of additional tariffs.
At a rally on Saturday, Modi struck a defiant tone, urging Indians to buy only locally made goods. “The world economy is going through many apprehensions. There is an atmosphere of instability,” he said. “Whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian.”
Experts note that while strategic and defense ties between Washington and New Delhi have strengthened in recent years, trade disputes remain unresolved. Talks to finalize a trade deal have stalled, with disagreements over e-commerce rules, digital data flows, and medical device pricing. India’s resistance, analysts argue, stems from a desire to protect its micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers from foreign competition.
“This is a pressure tactic by Trump,” said Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian diplomat. “Unlike others, India has not given in to what the Americans want because we have to protect our MSMEs and agriculture.”
Despite the tensions, Indian officials continue to insist that New Delhi will not abandon its strategic autonomy or its reliance on Russian energy. As Trump considers further tariffs, the coming months may determine whether the Trump Modi bond can survive the mounting political and economic rift.
