Following President Donald Trump’s 2025 tariffs on Indian goods, questions have arisen about the reliability of the United States as a partner. The new tariffs, imposed amid criticism of India’s purchases of Russian oil and weapons, threaten to disrupt India’s exports and have strained diplomatic relations. Reconciliation between the two nations will require constant evaluation due to bruised sentiments and the unpredictable nature of personalized diplomacy. India’s policy makers will have to engage with the US while also hedging their bets against unpredictable policy shifts.

The Trump administration miscalculated that under its pressure, India, like Japan and the European Union (EU), would ultimately make major concessions affecting sensitive domestic constituencies. It underestimated both the structural sensitivities of the Indian economy and the strategic implications of overreliance on coercive diplomacy. The tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have prompted India to significantly recalibrate its foreign policy, shifting toward strategic partnerships with Russia and China while diversifying its economic relationships with other nations.

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India has rejected U.S. demands to cut off its purchases of discounted Russian oil, which the U.S. government claims is funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. New Delhi argues that it must ensure its energy security and notes the inconsistency of punishing India while other countries continue to buy Russian energy. Amid U.S. criticism over India’s discounted Russian oil purchases, India has affirmed its “special relationship” with Russia. India has made it quite clear that Russia, a longtime defence partner, remains a resilient ally. Thus, the U.S. tariffs, combined with India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, have strengthened the historical India-Russia partnership.

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As a buffer against U.S. protectionism, India has deepened trade and investment ties with other major economic blocs. India and the UK signed a landmark Comprehensive........

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