Al Jazeera reported on October 1 that, after months of accumulating friction with the Trump administration, India has begun expressing its dissatisfaction with the United States more openly. On September 28, during a speech at the Asia Society in New York, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addressed counterterrorism issues, cautioning, “If my partner does not fully grasp one of my core concerns, it will clearly affect our relationship.” The “partner” referred to the United States, while the counterterrorism concern centered on Pakistan. With U.S.-Pakistan ties continuing to strengthen, India has grown increasingly skeptical about whether Washington prioritizes its security interests. Jaishankar also stated, “Countries should not make decisions based solely on their own worldviews.” This remark, touching on the economic fallout of war on the Global South, was interpreted by the report as an implicit critique of U.S. policy. Current tensions between the U.S. and India are concentrated in three areas. First, trade tariffs. Negotiations have long been hindered by sensitive issues such as agriculture, while shifting U.S. tariff policies—combined with new legislation authorizing up to a 100% tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil—have further heightened uncertainty. Second, relations with Pakistan. Repeated statements by Trump asserting his role in facilitating an India-Pakistan ceasefire by May 2025 have provoked Indian resistance to third-party involvement, and growing U.S.-Pakistan engagement has deepened Indian discontent. Third, mobility of people. The U.S. tightening of H-1B visa policies has directly affected Indian professionals seeking employment in the United States, increasing domestic pressure on the Modi government. Analysts suggest that rising domestic frustration over U.S. pressure and India’s previous silence is pushing New Delhi toward greater public articulation of differences. Yet both sides still seek to repair relations. Pande, vice chair of the Observer Research Foundation, noted that India currently has little choice but to await the end of Trump’s term. This assessment reflects India’s strategic dilemma: while expressing dissent publicly is feasible, altering U.S. policy remains exceedingly difficult.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1877993200672780/
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