President Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric at the UN General Assembly have raised a troubling question: is the US-India strategic partnership an alliance in name only? The way he treated India—as an adversary to be coerced rather than a partner to be consulted—belies the warm rhetoric of partnership that has defined the relationship for years.
Alliances are built on a foundation of mutual trust, respect, and a commitment to shared interests. Trump’s speech undermined all three pillars. There was no trust in his public accusation that India is funding a war. There was no respect in his dismissal of India’s sovereign historical narrative. And his “America First” approach showed little commitment to India’s core economic interests.
True partners handle disagreements through private dialogue. Trump’s choice to publicly condemn and threaten India is a tactic one uses against a rival, not a friend. The imposition of punitive 50% tariffs is a measure taken to punish, not to persuade an ally.
The speech created a stark disconnect between the official designation of India as a “Major Defense Partner” and the reality of its treatment. The partnership label seems to be a flag of convenience, used when it serves US interests (like countering China) but ignored when India’s own interests (like buying Russian oil) are deemed inconvenient.
This has led to a crisis of confidence in New Delhi. Policymakers are being forced to consider the uncomfortable possibility that the strategic partnership is a hollow concept under the Trump administration, an alliance that exists in name only.