Bromance in Ashes: A New Global Upheaval (Cover Story)
There was a time when India-America friendship was cited as an example. The echoes of "Howdy Modi" in Houston's grand stadium and the chants of "Namaste Trump" in Ahmedabad's Motera—the world watched with great anticipation this unique camaraderie blossoming between two strong leaders of two democratic nations. This friendship was not merely confined to photographs and warm handshakes; it was a magnificent edifice of strategic partnership that both nations had painstakingly built, brick by brick, over the past three decades. The foundation of this edifice rested on shared democratic values, a joint fight against terrorism, and a common strategic resolve to counterbalance China's growing dominance.
But on the chessboard of politics, golden images of friendship are often merely the first installment of a harsh reality. When Donald Trump made his return to the White House in January 2025, many Indian strategists felt a sense of relief. They believed that Trump's personal chemistry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that "bromance" the world had witnessed, would act as a protective shield for India. It was thought that while the world might tremble at Trump's unpredictable and tumultuous temperament, India would remain safe from this storm.
Yet, within six months, this golden dream began to transform into a nightmare. That canvas of friendship, painted with the colors of hope, was now being discolored by the ink of distrust and pressure. This story began with images of Indian migrants in America with their pride in chains, then progressed to the peculiar claim of "Operation Sindoor," where Trump attempted to present himself as a peacemaker between India and Pakistan, and finally arrived at the heavy economic blow of massive tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil. Where it will go next is hard to say, but all this has shaken the very foundation of this relationship.
In no time, that magnificent edifice of strategic partnership began to crack. India-US relations plunged to their lowest point in decades. Just as constitutional institutions in India felt ensnared in the grip of a centralized governance system, India's foreign policy on the global stage appeared to be caught in the shackles of Trump's unpredictable and unilateral actions. This was not merely a bilateral issue between two nations; its impact was influencing every move on the chessboard of global geopolitics. Unraveling the layers of how and why the situation changed, and understanding what lies buried beneath the debris of this friendship—a temporary misunderstanding or a permanent rift—is the greatest imperative today.
Pride in Chains
The first deep and public crack in this relationship appeared in February 2025, just before Prime Minister Modi's White House visit, when the world witnessed images that shook every Indian to their core. Indian citizens, their hands and feet bound in chains, moving towards an American military aircraft. They were not dangerous criminals, but undocumented immigrants who had set foot on American soil in search of a better life. They were sent back, bound in chains like animals during a hours-long flight.
This was a stark display of Trump's radical "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) ideology, for which the demonization of immigrants is an electoral necessity. It was a cruel play of his domestic politics, staged at the cost of India's pride. Anger erupted in India. The opposition protested in Parliament wearing handcuffs, questioning why New Delhi couldn't halt this "inhumane" and "humiliating" treatment of its citizens if Trump was such a good friend of Prime Minister Modi.
This incident became a tough diplomatic puzzle for the Modi government. On one hand, there was the question of its citizens' dignity, and on the other, the risk of displeasing an unpredictable leader like Trump. The government attempted to defend itself in Parliament by stating that this was an old American procedure, but this argument failed to convince anyone. The truth was that Trump was prioritizing his domestic politics above any friendship or strategic partnership. He had sent a clear message that pleasing his voter base was more important to him than caring about relations with India. This was the first major blow, revealing how hollow the foundation of this "bromance" was, and that it could be sacrificed to Trump's political interests at any moment.
The Myth of Friendship
If the images of chains had created a crack in the relationship, Trump's next move transformed that crack into a deep chasm. After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in April 2022, India and Pakistan became embroiled in their largest military confrontation in decades. India launched "Operation Sindoor," and both nuclear-armed nations stood on the brink of war. When the ceasefire between the two countries occurred on May 10, the world breathed a sigh of relief.
But then Donald Trump made a claim that sent shockwaves through New Delhi. He began asserting, repeatedly, over 30 times, that he had brokered the ceasefire. He reiterated it so often that in India, he was jokingly referred to as Mr. Ceasefire. He stated, "I told both countries to either stop the war, or trade would stop." He presented himself as a great peacemaker, whose single gesture halted two nuclear powers from fighting.
This was a direct assault on India's sovereignty and its decades-old foreign policy. India has always maintained that all its disputes with Pakistan are bilateral and there is no room for third-party mediation. Trump's claim was not only false, but it was an attempt to portray India as a weak nation incapable of making its own decisions. Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar vehemently refuted this on every platform, from Parliament onwards. They clarified that there had been no conversation between Modi and Trump during the ceasefire, and trade had nothing to do with it.
But Trump stuck to his falsehoods. For him, it wasn't a matter of truth, but an opportunity to burnish his image. He saw himself as a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize. This episode made India even more uncomfortable because, at precisely this time, the Trump administration was increasing its proximity with Pakistan. The Pakistani Army Chief was given an unprecedented welcome at the White House, whom Trump described as "extremely effective" in establishing peace. This was a double blow for India: on one hand, its closest strategic partner was undermining its sovereignty, and on the other, it was embracing its biggest rival. The mask of friendship had now completely fallen away, clearly revealing a purely transactional, self-centered face behind it.
The Great Tariff War
The final nail in the coffin of this relationship was hammered in by Trump's economic 'Brahmastra'. The reason: India's old and time-tested friendship with Russia. After the Ukraine war began, when Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia, India, considering its energy security needs, continued to purchase crude oil from Russia at discounted rates. This was a natural extension of India's policy of "strategic autonomy." The Biden administration had understood this compulsion and had never directly pressured India.
But for Trump, this was unacceptable. He wanted to pressure Russian President Putin regarding peace talks in Ukraine, and India appeared to him as an easy scapegoat. He began accusing India of financially supporting Russia's "war machine." Trump's allies, such as Stephen Miller and Peter Navarro, publicly blamed India.
What followed was unprecedented. In late July, Trump imposed a hefty 25 percent tariff on Indian imports. But he didn't stop there. He announced that if India did not cease purchasing Russian oil, this tariff would be doubled to 50 percent. This was not how one treated a strategic partner; this was economic warfare waged against an enemy.
India reacted sharply. The Ministry of External Affairs called it "unjust, unfair, and illogical" and stated that India would take all necessary steps to protect its national interests. India also pointed to the double standards of Western nations, highlighting that Europe itself was trading far more with Russia than India, and America too was importing fertilizers and chemicals from Russia.
The decline in relations with India is not just a concern for New Delhi but has also begun to echo within Washington's political circles. Several decisions taken during US President Donald Trump's second term have shaken the foundation of a strategic partnership built over decades. As a result, many prominent American figures are now openly criticizing these moves. Former UN Ambassador and Republican leader Nikki Haley described the Trump administration's action of deporting Indian immigrants in chains as "inhumane and shameful." She argued that this not only hurt the Indian-origin community but also damaged America's moral credibility. Similarly, John Kerry, Secretary of State during the Obama administration, and Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor, also termed Trump's anti-India tariffs a "strategic blunder." According to them, punishing India was weakening America's own Indo-Pacific strategy instead of pressuring Russia.
Not just Democrats, but several Republican think-tanks and policy experts also believe that alienating a democratic ally like India indirectly benefits China. Critical voices resonating in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee indicate that the rift in India-US relations is being seriously felt within American politics as well.
Indeed, the partnership once called the "Defining Relationship of the 21st Century" during the Obama era is now in crisis due to Trump's short-sighted policies. This discontent is not limited to diplomatic circles but extends to American media, human rights organizations, and business lobbies. It is clear that the deterioration in relations with India has put Trump in the dock of criticism in his own country.
The biggest question was why America targeted India but spared China, which was buying the most oil from Russia? The answer lay in the complex economic dependence between the US and China. America is so dependent on China's rare earths and its vast supply chain that it could not risk a full-blown trade war with China, especially just before the Christmas season. It had no such compulsion with India. This selective action made it clear that Trump's policy was based on convenience, not principles.
The impact of this tariff war was immediately visible. In Surat, Gujarat, where 90% of the world's diamonds are cut, the industry virtually came to a standstill. The US is the largest buyer of Indian diamonds. Due to the tariffs, orders stopped, factories began to close, and thousands of artisans became unemployed. Diamond artisans like Ajay Lakum, who had spent their entire lives in this work, suddenly found themselves on the streets. This was not just an economic statistic; it was a direct attack on the livelihoods of millions of people.
On the other hand, the decision to impose massive tariffs of up to 50 percent on India proved to be a severe blow not only for New Delhi but also for the American economy. This step was taken at a time when American industries were already grappling with inflation, supply-chain crises, and an ongoing trade war with China. Such a huge barrier on products coming from India multiplied the costs for American importers and retail companies. From textiles to diamond processing, auto parts to pharmaceuticals, American consumers had to pay higher prices in many sectors.
The diamond and gem-stone industry, in particular, centered in New York and Los Angeles, was directly affected. Tariffs on imports from Surat broke the backbone of businesses, endangering thousands of jobs. The pharmaceutical industry, which relies on affordable generic drugs from India, also saw prices suddenly rise, putting an additional burden on the average American's pocket. Consequently, the Consumer Price Index recorded a surge, and concerns were raised within the US Federal Reserve itself.
Trade lobbies and business councils warned the White House that imposing harsh tariffs on India was causing American companies to lose competitiveness and weakening their market position. Discontent also emerged within the Republican Party, as groups traditionally supporting business interests considered it a "self-defeating" move. The result was that instead of putting pressure on China, the tariffs plunged America's own domestic industries and consumers into a fire of inflation and instability.
The Precarious Equation of Geopolitics
This upheaval in India-US relations was not merely bilateral. Its tremors were felt across the entire spectrum of global geopolitics, diplomacy, and economy.
• Geopolitical Shift: The biggest and most ironic consequence of Trump's actions was that it inadvertently pushed India closer to Russia and China. The main pillar of America's Indo-Pacific strategy was to position India as a strong counterbalancing power against China. But by isolating and punishing India in this manner, Trump did precisely the opposite. He forced India to take trilateral platforms like Russia-India-China (RIC) more seriously. At a time when America most needed a partner like India to counter China, Trump's policies pushed that very partner towards the camp of its rivals.
• Diplomatic Distrust: This entire episode sent a dangerous message to American allies around the world. The message was that "strategic partnership" with the US meant nothing if your leader came in the way of President Trump's domestic political agenda or his momentary anger. It put a deep question mark on America's credibility. The rules-based world order, which America had advocated for decades, now appeared to be transforming into a "deal-based disorder," where the rules were whatever Donald Trump decided.
• Economic Uncertainty: This tariff war created a new wave of uncertainty in the global economy. Pressure on the Indian rupee and bond market increased. Global supply chains, already grappling with the pandemic and the Ukraine war, were further disrupted. It proved that when the world's two largest economies and democracies clash in this manner, the impact is not just on them, but on overall global economic stability.
Searching for the Future Amidst the Debris of Friendship
From the chants of "Howdy Modi" to the threat of 50% tariffs, this journey of India-US relations is a bitter lesson. It is a lesson that in international relations, personal chemistry and slogans of friendship cannot be relied upon, especially when dealing with a leader like Donald Trump. This story is not just about the breakdown of a relationship between two leaders, but it is the story of profound structural changes that are shaping global politics today.
Today, India stands at a crossroads. Trump's second term has made it clear that America cannot be blindly trusted. What is the way forward? Can this relationship get back on track? Perhaps yes, but it will never be the same again. India must understand that the path to the future lies in more firmly establishing its "strategic autonomy." It must keep its options open – partnering with the West, and maintaining dialogue with countries like Russia and China.
The old protagonists have left the stage, and a new play is being performed with new characters. In this play, India must write its own script. It must ensure that it does not remain a supporting character in someone else's story. That Taj Mahal of friendship, which once seemed so grand and strong, has today turned into ruins. Now, instead of mourning amidst this debris, India must erect a new, self-reliant, and strong edifice of its foreign policy, whose foundation rests not on the personal relationships of any leader, but on India's own unwavering national interests. This is the greatest truth of this era and the only path to the future.