A four-day US visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to India occurred amid lingering tensions tied to Washington’s America First approach. Trade frictions include tariffs on Indian exports and pressure over India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil, creating economic and political unease. Analysts say the relationship has shifted from a broadly upward trajectory to a more transactional and contested phase. Navtej Sarna warns that trust is deeply negative and that a single diplomatic tour cannot restore alignment. Meera Shankar links the visit to a period of strain marked by higher tariffs, tighter visa regimes, and doubts about US reliability as a balancing power in the Indo-Pacific. US tensions with Iran and outreach to Pakistan and China further heighten Indian concerns.
"“Trust is in the deep red, interests are misaligned,” Sarna told DW. “US actions, policies and unpredictability have impacted us deeply on trade, energy, immigration and so on.” He added that “India's position in America's strategic vision regional or global is no longer a given,” and cautioned that New Delhi can no longer take its partnership with Washington for granted."
"“A reset will take much more work than just a visit,” he said. “We must see what happens on the ground on our core interests.” Underlying frictions test bilateral relations Meera Shankar, another former Indian envoy to the US, notes that Rubio's visit followed “a period of strain in IndiaUS ties marked by higher tariffs, tighter visa regimes and questions in New Delhi over Washington's reliability as a balancing power in the Indo-Pacific.”"
"“After calling Modi a 'friend,' Trump hardened his tone on India, saying it helped fund the war in Ukraine by buying Russian oil [FILE: February 13, 2025]Image: Molly Riley/White House/Planet Pix/ZUMA/picture alliance At the same time, US tensions with Iran and its outreach to Pakistan and China have reinforced New Delhi's concerns”"
#us-india-relations #trade-and-tariffs #energy-and-russia-oil #immigration-and-visas #indo-pacific-strategy
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