- Trust is the cornerstone of diplomacy. Over the last two decades, India and the United States have worked to move beyond the historical suspicion that defined their Cold War relations.
- Every action in international politics generates a reaction. Trump’s tariff war against India has accelerated New Delhi’s search for alternative platforms where its voice is heard and respected.
- What Washington often fails to understand is that India is not merely a rising economy or a military power—it is a civilizational state grounded in Dharma (righteous order) and Nīti (ethical statecraft).
- Trump’s tariff aggression provides a moment of clarity for India: New Delhi must diversify its partnerships, assert its autonomy, and never again trust America blindly.
The recent decision of the United States to impose a staggering 50% tariff on Indian goods has marked a new low in Indo-American relations. What was once hailed as one of the most important strategic partnerships of the 21st century now risks being undermined by unilateralism, short-sightedness, and a lack of diplomatic finesse. By triggering a tariff war against India, Washington has not only miscalculated the resilience of the Indian economy but has also jeopardised decades of painstaking efforts by diplomats, strategists, and leaders from both nations to build a relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and commerce. This misfired aggression is bound to boomerang and may go down as one of the gravest foreign policy errors in recent American history.
The Collapse of Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of diplomacy. Over the last two decades, India and the United States have worked to move beyond the historical suspicion that defined their Cold War relations. The landmark civil nuclear deal of 2008, growing defence cooperation, counterterrorism coordination, and technology transfers were all testimony to the gradual elevation of India to the status of a valued partner. Yet, Donald Trump’s reckless tariff war has undone much of that progress. Instead of recognising India’s growing stature as a responsible global power, the United States has chosen to treat it as a transactional partner. This attitude reeks of arrogance, reminiscent of an era when Washington viewed other nations through the prism of subordination. India, however, is no longer the India of the 1990s that would bend under external pressure. It is a confident civilizational state with a strong economy, military, and diplomatic weight, led by a government unwilling to accept the role of a junior partner.
A Strategic Boomerang for the US & India’s Civilizational Strength
Every action in international politics generates a reaction. Trump’s tariff war against India has accelerated New Delhi’s search for alternative platforms where its voice is heard and respected. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which held its historic 25th Summit in Tianjin in 2025, has emerged as one such platform. India, alongside Russia, China, and Central Asian states, is strengthening the SCO into a genuine alternative to Western-led institutions. Similarly, India’s deepening engagement with BRICS is no accident. By spearheading initiatives such as the New Development Bank and pushing for de-dollarisation in global trade, India is signalling that it will not remain hostage to the whims of Washington. In fact, the current US misadventure may be the catalyst that drives the Russia-India-China (RIC) axis into closer cooperation. Ironically, Washington’s own behaviour is pushing its potential allies into the arms of its rivals. Karl Haushofer, the German geopolitical thinker, once warned that powers which fail to understand the geographical and civilizational imperatives of their rivals and partners often doom themselves to strategic isolation. In turning India into an adversary through punitive economic measures, Washington risks precisely such a fate.
The Eternal Guide for Indian Foreign Policy- Nīti and Viveka
What Washington often fails to understand is that India is not merely a rising economy or a military power—it is a civilizational state grounded in Dharma (righteous order) and Nīti (ethical statecraft). Unlike purely transactional powers, India’s conduct in world affairs is guided not only by rational self-interest but also by a deeply ingrained civilizational wisdom that abhors domination and exploitation. In Indian philosophical traditions, Viveka means discernment—the ability to distinguish between what is permanent and temporary, dharmic and adharmic, friend and foe, self-interest and collective interest. In foreign policy, Viveka guides India to carefully separate transient political posturing from long-term civilizational interests. In the context of the 2025 U.S. tariffs of 50% on Indian goods, Viveka requires India to see beyond the immediate economic aggression. The U.S. action under Donald Trump may appear punitive and hostile, but Viveka teaches India to discern between America as a nation and the temporary impulses of a leadership driven by populism and transactionalism. While Washington’s tariff war damages trust, India must not view the entire relationship through the lens of one administration’s conduct. Instead, Viveka encourages India to balance its immediate retaliation with the preservation of long-term strategic autonomy. Thus, New Delhi’s response—seeking alternatives in BRICS, SCO, and RIC cooperation—is not a wholesale rejection of the U.S., but a wise diversification. Viveka allows India to recognise that dependence on one power is dangerous, but disengagement from global platforms led by the U.S. is equally shortsighted.
Unlike purely transactional powers, India’s conduct in world affairs is guided not only by rational self-interest but also by a deeply ingrained civilizational wisdom that abhors domination and exploitation.
Nīti in the Indian Knowledge System refers to the principles of ethical conduct, prudent diplomacy, and righteous statecraft. Unlike pure Realpolitik, Nīti does not see international politics only in terms of raw power or coercion; rather, it combines pragmatism with dharma. Applied to the 2025 tariff war, Nīti dictates that India must not surrender to intimidation nor retaliate with reckless aggression. Instead, India should respond proportionately, uphold its dignity, and signal that coercive measures will not succeed against a civilizational state. So far, India has followed the Kautilyan framework of Sama (conciliation), Dana (offering incentives), and Bheda (exploiting divisions) in managing relations with the U.S. The tariffs, however, represent a moment when Washington has disregarded these conciliatory channels. Should provocation continue, Nīti may guide India toward deploying Daṇḍa (punishment)—measured counter-tariffs, closer alignment with BRICS financial mechanisms, and stronger SCO security engagements. This reflects Kautilya’s insistence that a Vijigīshu (aspiring leader) must always be prepared to use every instrument of statecraft in defence of sovereignty. A ruler, Kautilya advised, must act as a Swamin (sovereign) protecting his people, a Vijigīshu (aspiring conqueror) who expands influence prudently, and a Chakravartin (universal leader) who upholds dharma in his domain. India’s leadership today embodies these roles by exercising strategic patience, building coalitions, and avoiding reckless adventurism.
Misplaced American Priorities & The Principle of Permanent Interests
The United States’ current conduct also highlights its inability to distinguish between real friends and real adversaries. While Washington lavishes aid and concessions on Pakistan—whose record on terrorism is globally notorious—it chooses to punish India, a democracy that has consistently upheld global stability. This flawed approach reflects what can only be described as a bankruptcy of strategic vision. Indeed, the United States seems increasingly mired in internal bickering, political polarisation, and economic uncertainties. Instead of consolidating reliable partnerships that can help balance rising Chinese power, it is alienating India. In doing so, Washington risks repeating the mistakes of past empires that failed to recognise where their true long-term interests lay. The timeless dictum of Lord Palmerston—“There are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests”—resonates strongly here. India has always recognised that international politics is driven by interests, not emotions. Yet, New Delhi has shown extraordinary goodwill in cultivating relations with Washington, often at political cost. By disregarding this goodwill, the US has jeopardised its own long-term interests in Asia. At a time when the Indo-Pacific requires strong coordination between democracies to counterbalance authoritarian powers, Washington’s hostility towards India is not only self-defeating but also strategically suicidal.
While Washington lavishes aid and concessions on Pakistan—whose record on terrorism is globally notorious—it chooses to punish India, a democracy that has consistently upheld global stability.
A Warning from History & The Path Forward
History is replete with examples where great powers faltered because they failed to treat rising powers with respect. The British Empire’s inability to accommodate Germany as an equal contributed to the First World War. Similarly, America’s refusal to see India as a partner, rather than a subordinate, may accelerate a global shift towards multipolarity that leaves Washington sidelined. India is not seeking confrontation. Its foreign policy has consistently emphasised cooperation, dialogue, and mutual growth. But it will not accept humiliation. The tariff war is not just about economics; it is about dignity, recognition, and equality. The United States must recognise that India’s strength lies not only in its economic growth or military capabilities but in its civilizational resilience. Any partnership that seeks to dictate terms rather than respect equals will fail. If Washington continues its current path, it will find itself increasingly isolated, while India forges stronger ties with BRICS, SCO, and RIC.
Donald Trump’s tariff aggression represents the worst conduct of American foreign policy in decades—a reckless move devoid of diplomatic acumen. But it also provides a moment of clarity for India: New Delhi must diversify its partnerships, assert its autonomy, and never again trust America blindly. In the final analysis, the message is clear: India will not be treated as a junior partner. Built on the foundations of Dharma and Nīti, India is destined to chart its own course, neither bowing to American pressure nor aligning unconditionally with any bloc. The United States should realise this before it is too late. Respecting India as an equal partner is not just desirable—it is the only way forward.
Dr. Nanda Kishor M. S. is an Associate Professor at the Department of Politics and International Studies, Pondicherry University, and former Head of Geopolitics and International Relations at Manipal University. His expertise spans India’s foreign policy, conflict resolution, international law, and national security, with several publications and fellowships from institutions including UNHCR, Brookings, and DAAD. The views expressed are the author’s own.
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