October 5, 2025

India and the U.S. have long been close friends, built on democracy, diversity, and free speech. Once, their ties were smooth, covering many fields like education and space, stronger than any other international bond India has. But recent years have added some hot spices to this mix. The Republicans in the U.S. have stayed more India-friendly than the Democrats. Back home, India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) loves the U.S. much more than other parties. Yet, the friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Donald Trump has started to crack, especially on trade and tariffs. India’s foreign policy aims to protect India’s interests first. It isn’t meant to save anyone’s image or promote their businesses. Unfortunately, under Modi, things changed. From day one, Modi’s foreign visits focused more on personal hugs and flashy appearances than strong policy work. Many felt he cared more about his image than India’s global standing. Business giant Adani got top priority during Modi’s trips. For example, India’s strong support for Israel is partly linked to Adani’s investments in Israel’s Haifa Port. This connection even shaped Modi’s friendship with Israel’s PM Netanyahu. Because of this, India stayed quiet about Israel’s attack on Iran. But Modi’s team missed how these moves hurt India’s broader strategy. Past slip-ups happened with Pakistan and China, and now it’s happening with the U.S. It’s clear that personal friendships aren’t enough to build strong foreign policy. One key problem is India’s weak voice in response to Trump’s aggressive policies. Even when Trump tweets on social media, Modi’s replies look like quiet surrender. India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi cuts right to the chase: "We have a weak prime minister," he says, "India is under the thumb of the Trump team." Under Trump, India faced many challenges. For example, 70% of H-1B visas in the U.S. go to Indian tech workers. These workers are known for hard work and commitment. But from 2026, new Indian applicants must pay a whopping $100,000 fee! Tariffs hit India hard too. Due to Trump’s 50% tariff on some goods, sectors like textiles and gems may lose ₹2.17 lakh crore. Jayaram Ramesh of the Indian National Congress warns about this big blow. Meanwhile, Indian pharma companies got lucky because they have plants in the U.S. Things worsened as the U.S. removed Chabahar Port from sanctions exemption, hurting India’s strategic interests. Now, Indian companies must exit Chabahar within 45 days or risk frozen assets, says thediplomaticinsight.com. These sanctions block Indian businesses from making global deals. Adding salt to the wound, Trump grew closer to Pakistan’s leaders, showing warmth that India couldn’t stop. Modi’s failure to firmly oppose Trump’s wrong claims about arranging ceasefires between India and Pakistan also raised eyebrows. The big picture? India’s foreign policy under Modi looks confused, lacking clear goals and courage. One step forward, two steps backward – that's where India seems stuck now. While Modi’s birthday “best wishes” from Trump were nice, the harsh policies cast a heavy, rainy cloud over India-U.S. ties and India’s future. India should watch how China and Russia handle their relationship with the U.S. for lessons. Without bold, smart moves, India risks losing its place as a rising global power. Will Modi find the courage and strategy to set things right? Only time will tell.

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Tags: India-us relations, Modi, Trump, Trade tariffs, Foreign policy, H-1b visas,