Washington, December 9 – The strategic partnership between the United States and India, nurtured over the past two decades, faces a critical challenge. Dhruv Jayashankar, Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in the US, has warned that if rising political tensions are not resolved in time, years of progress could be at risk.
Jayashankar issued this statement ahead of a key hearing scheduled on Wednesday before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.
He pointed out that the US-India relationship, which has strengthened consistently under different governments, is now at a point of political stagnation. Two main reasons cited for this are increasing trade tariff disputes and the growing closeness between the US and Pakistan’s military leadership.
According to him, this partnership has been reinforced since 1998 through economic cooperation, the Indo-Pacific strategy, and a shared concern over China’s rising assertiveness. He emphasized that with both countries confronting China’s expanding influence and global instability, any slowdown in their partnership could be dangerous.
Jayashankar detailed how the relationship has deepened since the lifting of sanctions in 1999, the historic 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement, defence cooperation, enhanced interoperability, the revival of the Quad, and growing collaboration in space, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence.
However, he noted that this progress now appears disrupted. He wrote, “The current situation risks undermining the ambitious bilateral agenda set by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in February 2025, as well as strategic cooperation in the Quad, the Middle East, and global affairs.”
He highlighted that China’s military capabilities now rival those of the US, citing incursions along borders, the 2020 Galwan clash, the largest naval expansion in history, and the development of dual-use ports in the Indo-Pacific region.
India has also increased maritime patrols since 2017 and strengthened cooperation with multiple partners, including through the Quad’s maritime domain awareness program.
Jayashankar mentioned that the US response to India’s counteractions following the April terrorist attack on India, coupled with the US’s growing engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership, has strained India-US ties.
He pointed to Pakistan’s long history of supporting terrorism as a persistent security challenge for India and the region.
Regarding trade, Jayashankar noted that following the derailment of the bilateral trade agreement, US-imposed tariffs on India have become among the highest levied on any country, negatively affecting exporters, investors, and workers in both nations.
He warned that if these tariffs persist, they may be perceived in India as “political hostility.”
Despite tensions, the two countries continue advancing rapidly in defence, energy, and technology. This year saw several significant achievements, including a 10-year defence framework agreement, major defence deals, expanded military exercises, India’s human space mission with NASA’s assistance, the launch of the India-US-developed NISAR satellite, and a $1.3 billion Indian LNG import deal.
Jayashankar stated that the partnership’s four main pillars—trade, energy, technology, and defence—remain very strong. He highlighted vast potential in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, semiconductor supply chains, and defence co-production under the India-US Trust Initiative.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
