Page 18 - The Indian EYE 100926

Op-Ed OCTOBER 09, 2026 | The Indian Eye 18

India-US ties

at an important moment

Modi-Trump conversation comes as trade, tariffs and energy ties

test a relationship that has acquired strategic depth

ASHISH K SINGH agreements. The real test is whether
disagreements can be managed with-
rime Minister Narendra Mo- out damaging cooperation in areas
di’s telephone conversation where interests converge.
Pwith US President Donald There is considerable conver-
Trump comes at an important mo- gence. Defence remains a major pil-
ment in India-US relations. The lar of the relationship. Critical and
two leaders reviewed cooperation in emerging technologies offer new
trade, defence, energy and critical opportunities for cooperation. Both
technologies and reaffirmed their countries have an interest in resilient
commitment to the Comprehensive supply chains and greater economic
Global Strategic Partnership. They engagement. They also share con-
also discussed regional and interna- cerns about instability and the chang-
tional developments and efforts to ing balance of power in Asia.
promote global peace and security. At the same time, Washington
The language was diplomatic has its own strategic priorities, partic-
and familiar. But the timing was sig- ularly concerning Russia and China.
nificant. The Trump administration’s growing
The India-US relationship has use of tariffs and economic measures
acquired considerable strategic depth as instruments of foreign policy cre-
over the past two decades. Defence ates potential friction with India’s ap-
cooperation has expanded, economic proach to strategic autonomy.
and technology ties have grown and enforcement action, including addi- versified energy supplies based on This makes sustained political
the two countries increasingly see tional tariffs. market conditions. It has also warned dialogue essential.
each other as important partners in For India, the trade negotiations that the issue could have implications The Modi-Trump conversation
a rapidly changing global order. Yet are about more than tariff conces- not only for bilateral relations but for therefore matters less for what was
the relationship is also confronting sions. New Delhi wants greater access international energy markets. announced than for what it rep-
difficult questions over trade, tariffs to the American market while retain- This is a particularly sensitive resents: an attempt at the highest lev-
and India’s energy ties with Russia. ing policy space to protect sensitive point because India’s relationship el to keep the broader relationship
The latest Modi-Trump conver- sectors and pursue its own economic with Russia predates its partnership on track while difficult negotiations
sation is important because it sug- priorities. Washington, meanwhile, is with Washington by decades. While continue underneath it.
gests that both sides recognise the seeking improved market access for India-US strategic cooperation has The next phase of India-US re-
need to manage these differences American businesses and changes in expanded dramatically, New Delhi lations will not be determined by
without allowing them to undermine areas where it believes Indian trade has consistently sought to preserve its diplomatic statements alone. It will
the larger partnership. practices disadvantage them. strategic autonomy and maintain rela- depend on whether the two countries
Trade is the most immediate test. Finding a balance will require tionships with multiple major powers. can resolve their trade differences,
India and the US have been ne- political flexibility on both sides. That approach is unlikely to manage the Russia-energy issue and
gotiating a bilateral trade agreement, The more complicated issue is change. continue expanding cooperation in
with both sides seeking a mutually energy. India sees the United States as defence and critical technologies.
beneficial arrangement. External Af- The passage of the Sanctioning an increasingly important partner India and the US have reached
fairs Minister S Jaishankar recently Russia and Iran Act in the US Con- in defence, technology, investment a point where their relationship is
said the negotiations had reached a gress has raised concerns in New and the Indo-Pacific. But partner- too important to be reduced to any
point where there was “more or less Delhi because the legislation allows ship does not mean alignment on single dispute. Trade, technology, en-
an understanding” on the agreement, the Trump administration to impose every foreign-policy question. India ergy and geopolitics are increasingly
while acknowledging that the process tariffs on Russia and countries that will continue to assess issues such as interconnected.
had proved more complicated than remain major buyers of Russian en- energy security according to its own The challenge before Modi and
initially expected. ergy, including India and China. national interests. Trump is to ensure that disagree-
The continuing US Section 301 India has made clear that its en- This is also where the maturity ments in one area do not overwhelm
process is one of the unresolved is- ergy security remains a central con- of the India-US relationship will be the larger strategic relationship. The
sues. Section 301 gives Washington sideration. The Ministry of External tested. latest conversation suggests that both
the authority to investigate trade Affairs has argued that a country of A strategic partnership cannot leaders understand the importance
practices it considers unfair and take 1.4 billion people must maintain di- be defined by the absence of dis- of that balance.

www.TheIndianEYE.com