US President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Pakistan has significantly undermined the two-decade-long partnership between the United States and India, according to a recent report.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A report published on August 14 highlights that US President Donald Trump’s approach to India, combined with his repeated endorsements of Pakistan, has severely damaged the relationship between the two nations. This partnership, once considered a defining aspect of the 21st century, has suffered as a result of Trump’s actions.
The report, released by the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), indicates that Trump’s policies have gone beyond economic tariffs, as he has “repeatedly and deliberately” challenged India’s core national security concerns, particularly regarding Kashmir. This has struck at the heart of India’s most sensitive issues.
Previous US administrations, including those of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, invested considerable effort into building strategic trust with India. They respected India’s red lines concerning Kashmir and refrained from actions that could embolden Pakistan. In stark contrast, Trump’s administration has publicly praised Pakistan, empowered its military leadership, and undermined India’s regional standing. This shift has weakened India’s fight against cross-border terrorism on the global stage, according to the report.
Recently, the United States has also provided a platform for Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, to issue nuclear threats against India. This marks a significant and unprecedented downturn in the relationship between Washington and New Delhi.
“By repeatedly endorsing Pakistan and ignoring India’s core concerns, Trump has eroded two decades of mutual trust,” a senior Indian diplomat stated in the report. The diplomat likened the current situation to a return to Cold War-era suspicion and strategic distance.
The report emphasizes the seriousness of the aggressive remarks made on American soil, particularly the nuclear threat in which Munir stated that Pakistan is a nuclear nation ready to “take half the world down with us.” Such alarming statements not only highlight Pakistan’s hostile intent but also reflect the strategic confidence it has gained from recent US support.
In the midst of this diplomatic turmoil, the report notes a noticeable shift in Beijing’s tone towards India, which should serve as a clear warning to Washington. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has criticized US tariffs on Indian goods, warning that “if you give a bully an inch, he will take a mile.” This sentiment has been echoed across state-controlled media, portraying Trump’s trade approach as unreasonable and strategically misguided.
Following the imposition of significant tariffs on India by the US, Chinese state media has praised India, demonstrating “respect and urgency” in hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his upcoming visit. The Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, has highlighted that “as regional powers, China and India have extensive shared interests in areas such as counterterrorism, trade, and cultural exchange.” It further stressed that “a healthy China–India relationship brings positive spillover effects to the region and the world.”
The ICPS report concludes that the US must recognize that weakening India does not enhance its position; rather, it empowers its rivals. Every key US strategic document underscores India’s importance in counterbalancing China in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the report, the current trajectory of US-India relations poses a significant challenge to the long-standing partnership that has been carefully cultivated over the past two decades.
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