Trump shouldn't destroy US-India strategic partnership nurtured for over quarter of a century

India must remain calm and firm and not give in to Trump's bullying. Coordinating with fellow members of BRICS that are also sanctioned by Trump and taking a united stand against punitive tariffs not supported by WTO regime isn't a bad idea.

- SURENDRA KUMAR

Mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual understanding, mutual accommodation and mutual sensitivity to each other's core interests constitute the bedrock of strong and lasting friendships between sovereign independent nations. It takes long, patient, persistent and painstaking endeavors to stitch together close, reliable and mutually beneficial friendship and nurture it in the long run. But it can be destroyed in no time if mutual trust, mutual accommodation and mutual sensitivity dry up for whatever reasons.

Though Bill Clinton imposed the severest of sanctions on India after her nuclear tests on May 15, 1998, by the time he visited India in March 2000, becoming the first US President to do so after a gap of 21 years, most of those sanctions had been lifted. Ever since, India-US relations have expanded exponentially irrespective of the governments in Washington and New Delhi, reflecting a bipartisan support on both sides for warmer and closer relationships. Till recently, India-US relations seemed to enjoy arguably the finest phase "overcoming hesitation of history" as evident from the burgeoning trade, defense and security cooperation, iCET and numerous missions covering every possible area from agriculture to outer space. Two countries have worked together in the Indo-Pacific, Quad and I2U2 to address regional and global issues.

One US President hailed it as the "most defining relationship of 21st century"; several Congressmen and Senators have been openly urging stronger ties with India. While the US declared India a major defense partner and accorded T-1 status, India has signed several foundational communication agreements such as GSOMIA, LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA. India got invited to G-7 summits; two countries became Global Comprehensive Strategic partners; American nod was crucial for India to achieve the unanimous resolution at the G-20 Summit held in Delhi in September 2023.