The US-India relationship is on a wild diplomatic see-saw, plunging to a new low with President Donald Trump’s UN speech just weeks after experiencing a brief high. The episode highlights the extreme volatility that has come to define the partnership under his presidency.
The “high” was a recent period of renewed bonhomie. Trade talks had resumed, and Trump had made friendly gestures, including a birthday call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he called his “good friend.” This created a sense that the relationship was back on a positive track after previous tensions.
That upward momentum was abruptly reversed at the UN, sending the see-saw crashing down. Trump’s speech was a brutal reality check, featuring a harsh accusation that India is funding the Ukraine war and a revival of the disputed ‘Operation Sindoor’ claim. The friendly rhetoric was gone, replaced by condemnation and threats.
This see-saw dynamic makes it incredibly difficult for India to conduct consistent foreign policy. Strategic planning becomes a nightmare when the mood in Washington can shift from amicable to hostile without warning. Every positive development is tempered by the knowledge that a sudden, “mercurial” turn could be just around the corner.
The latest plunge has left New Delhi scrambling. The challenge is not just to recover from the current low but to find a way to stabilize the see-saw. However, as long as the relationship is so heavily dependent on the unpredictable whims of one leader, stability may remain an elusive goal.
