From 'great friend' to 'tariff king': The changing shades of the U.S.-India relationship

Group 1 - The goodwill between the U.S. and India has deteriorated, with President Trump labeling India as the "tariff king" and threatening to raise tariffs on Indian exports substantially [2][3] - The initial optimism for a trade agreement aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 has shifted dramatically due to recent tariff hikes and accusations against India regarding its oil purchases from Russia [2][3] - Former Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan emphasized that India will prioritize its national interests and will not align itself with any external power at the expense of its sovereignty [2][4] Group 2 - The U.S. and India have developed a "Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership," focusing on cooperation in defense, technology, and clean energy, with India recognized as a "major defense partner" by the U.S. since 2016 [5] - The shared concern over China's influence has been a significant factor in strengthening U.S.-India relations, which is expected to persist despite current tensions [5]