US–India Relations in the Trump–Modi Era

How will US–India relations fare in a second Trump administration? While there is considerable uncertainty given the greater personalist tendencies of the US administration, this article demonstrates a substantial strategic and ideological convergence between the US and India on many—though not all—issues likely to arise through early 2029. India will have to blunt the impact of Trump’s neomercantilist impulses on trade and technology, even as New Delhi seeks to preserve friendly ties with the US president. Trump’s interest in a grand deal with China will cause concern in India, while his pursuit of US–Russia rapprochement will be welcomed in New Delhi. The Trump administration’s broader reconsideration of US foreign policy may not directly imperil Indian interests, but it will reinforce India’s enduring commitment to multi-alignment.