U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies in South Asia have sparked strategic tensions with India, potentially hindering bilateral relations, according to a recent report.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s strategy towards South Asia has introduced notable contradictions that have strained relations with India, as highlighted in a report cited on Saturday. While the United States continues to stress the importance of India’s role in the Indo-Pacific and seeks collaboration, several policy decisions under the Trump administration have reportedly been in conflict with India’s strategic interests.
Imran Khurshid, Associate Research Fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS) in New Delhi, details these issues in an article for the Eurasian Times. Among the primary concerns is the White House’s recent invitation to Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir. Additionally, the U.S. has shown support for an International Monetary Fund bailout to Pakistan amid Operation Sindoor and has repeatedly praised Pakistan’s leadership. According to Khurshid, these moves have emboldened Pakistan and given it more freedom to oppose India diplomatically and militarily, especially during sensitive regional developments.
Khurshid argues that if the U.S. wants India to be a serious and independent partner in the Indo-Pacific, it must discontinue actions undermining India in South Asia and respect India’s concerns. He suggests adopting a more integrated strategy that strengthens India’s position rather than relying on fragmented regional frameworks.
The report warns that continuing contradictions in U.S. policy could damage not only bilateral ties with India but also diminish the U.S.’s broader global standing. Khurshid emphasizes that Trump’s approach may risk isolating the U.S. and undermining its leadership role globally.
Comparatively, the approach of previous U.S. administrations is credited with building trust. Leaders like Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama practiced a de-hyphenated policy, treating India and Pakistan independently while respecting India’s red lines on issues like Kashmir and strategic autonomy.
In contrast, Trump’s administration is characterized by a transactional foreign policy rooted in trade imbalances, tariffs, and leverage which has reportedly caused unease in New Delhi. This unease was further elevated by Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on Indian goods, set to take effect on August 1, 2025, and threats of secondary sanctions tied to India’s continued importation of Russian oil and defense equipment.
Khurshid contends that such actions threaten to weaken vital strategic frameworks like the National Security Strategy and the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which need consistent execution to be effective. The report concludes that these developments have not only disrupted routine diplomacy but may also undermine the long-term foundations of U.S.–India strategic cooperation.