On India-US, symptoms are being managed, not underlying MAGA unpredictability, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The India-US relationship, strong for 25 years, faced challenges due to the Trump administration's "America First" policies.
• US tariffs on Indian steel, aluminum, and textiles, along with the "tariff king" label, shocked India's economy.
• CAATSA sanctions threatened India's relations with Russia, while renewed US engagement with Pakistan raised concerns.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit aimed to repair the relationship, reaffirming commitment to the Quad and defense cooperation.
• The article suggests that deeper structural assurances are needed to overcome the "MAGA unpredictability" in US foreign policy.

Detailed Insights:

• The India-US relationship, built on shared democratic values and concerns about China, shifted due to Trump's transactional approach.
• "Friend-shoring," the redirection of supply chains from China, was undermined by US protectionism and border closures.
• The US threatened CAATSA sanctions due to India's oil imports from Russia and defense ties with Moscow, straining diplomatic relations.
• Rubio's visit temporarily eased tensions by reaffirming US commitment to the Indo-Pacific and strategic cooperation with India.
• To rebuild trust, the US needs to codify India's "strategic partner" status, accept India's independent relations with Russia, and protect high-tech immigration.
• A Quad summit in India with Trump's participation would reassure India about the US commitment to balancing against China.
• The article emphasizes that the India-US partnership requires constant protection from the unpredictable nature of transactional politics.

Key Concepts Involved:

• CAATSA: US law authorizing sanctions against countries engaging with Russia's defense or intelligence sectors.
• Quad: A strategic dialogue between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia.
• MAGA: "Make America Great Again," a political slogan often associated with protectionist trade policies.