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    COVER STORY                                                         OCTOBER 24, 2025  |      The Indian Eye                     4

                                                       TRUMP VS INDIA

                 PRESSURE AND

                                       PATIENCE

                                 From H-IB visa fees to Pakistan outreach and trade deal,
                      Washington’s pressure tests India’s patience — yet New Delhi’s quiet

                         confidence signals a more balanced relationship than ever before

            OUR BUREAU

            Washington, DC / New Delhi
                  resident Donald Trump’s sec-
                  ond term has entered a critical
            Pphase for India-U.S. relations.
            Despite the warmth of past public ap-
            pearances and the symbolic gestures
            of friendship, the tone between Wash-
            ington and New Delhi has grown
            noticeably sharper. The world’s two
            largest democracies are still aligned
            in principle on the need for a free In-
            do-Pacific and deeper trade and tech-
            nology ties, but the road ahead has
            become bumpier. Trump’s brand of
            transactional diplomacy—part show-
            manship, part pressure politics—is
            once again testing the limits of India’s
            patience and pragmatism.
                The  latest  flashpoint  emerged
            when the administration imposed
            an extraordinary one-hundred-thou-
            sand-dollar fee on every H-1B visa
            petition, instantly sparking outrage
            across corporate America. The U.S.
            Chamber of Commerce, which rare-              Despite his tough postures, Trump has maintained cordial relations with Prime Minister Modi (ANI File Photo)
            ly confronts the White House so di-
            rectly, filed a lawsuit challenging the   domestic workers. But behind the   partnership’s  mutual  benefit.  India’s   on American goods, from farm prod-
            measure as unlawful. Neil Bradley,   rhetoric lies a clear political calcu-  restraint reflects maturity: it will de-  ucts to medical devices. India count-
            the Chamber’s Executive Vice Presi-  lation. In an election year, cracking   fend  its  interests  firmly  but  without   ers that U.S. subsidies and visa re-
            dent, warned that the fee would make   down on foreign labor plays well with   theatrics.             strictions distort the playing field just
            it impossible for start-ups and small-  his nationalist base, even if it under-  While the visa dispute grabbed   as much. Behind these exchanges lies
            er businesses to use the visa program   mines America’s  own tech compet-  headlines,  it  is  the  slow  grind of   a philosophical clash: Trump’s “Amer-
            and would cripple innovation. For In-  itiveness. New Delhi, though dis-  trade negotiations that exposes the   ica First” protectionism versus India’s
            dia, whose citizens account for nearly   pleased, has chosen not to respond   deeper tension. The long-discussed   push for “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” or
            three-quarters of all H-1B profession-  with  public  outrage.  Indian  officials   India-U.S.  trade  deal,  first  floated   self-reliance. Still, neither country
            als, the impact was immediate. The   have conveyed their concerns through   during Trump’s earlier tenure, re-  can afford to walk away. The United
            visa hike directly threatens the Indian   diplomatic channels, quietly remind-  mains mired in disputes over tariffs   States is India’s largest trading part-
            information-technology sector, which   ing Washington that the H-1B system   and market access. Both sides insist   ner, with bilateral commerce now ex-
            has long been a backbone of the bilat-  is not a loophole but a lifeline con-  that talks are progressing, yet insiders   ceeding 190 billion dollars, and both
            eral economic relationship.       necting two innovation economies.   admit the pace is glacial. Trump’s ob-  governments recognize that econom-
                Trump  justified  the  decision  as   Many of America’s top technology   session with trade deficits has revived   ic decoupling is not an option. One
            part of his “Hire American” cam-  firms  are  led  by  Indian-origin  exec-  old arguments. Washington accuses   Indian negotiator likened the process
            paign, portraying it as protection for   utives, a fact that underscores the   New Delhi of maintaining high duties   Continued on next page... >>

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