What Trump team doesn't get about India and Pakistan
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At the center of this deterioration is Trump's fixation on projecting himself as a global dealmaker and peacemaker, a strategy driven in part by his not-so-subtle ambition to win the Nobel Peace Prize. This personal aspiration, combined with a heavy-handed use of economic pressure via tariffs, pose a formidable threat to America's ties with its allies as shown in the case of India.
Misreading India's strategic autonomy
A telling incident reflecting a grave India-US disconnect occurred in New Delhi, as reported by Washington Post, when Trump's top adviser on India, Ricky Gill, was having dinner in New Delhi with former Indian diplomats. "Though he was in town for a global security conference, the conversation turned, inevitably, to Trump's souring relationship with Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
, according to two people familiar with the matter. Indian officials were expressing frustration that trade negotiations had been upended; they were also angry that Trump kept claiming credit for resolving the country's recent military confrontation with Pakistan," Washington Post reported.
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"Indian officials were expressing frustration that trade negotiations had been upended; they were also angry that Trump kept claiming credit for resolving the country's recent military confrontation with Pakistan," Washington Post reported. "Gill, the National Security Council's senior director for South and Central Asia, tried to assuage the former diplomats, assuring them Washington still viewed New Delhi as a crucial partner, according to the two people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. But Gill noted there was one thing irritating Trump's team: Why were the Indians still obsessing over how the conflict in May had ended? The diplomats were 'surprised' by the question, the people familiar said. India has made no secret of its long-standing position that issues with Pakistan, its nuclear arch-rival, should be handled bilaterally."
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Trump-Putin meet: Trump's aide warns India of more tariffs if peace bid fails
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Trump has repeatedly boasted that it was his intervention that de-escalated the India-Pakistan conflict during Operation Sindoor. This isn't just a case of diplomatic overreach. It is a miscalculation that strikes at the core of India's doctrine on handling Pakistan bilaterally. For decades, India has insisted that it permits no third-party mediation in India-Pakistan affairs. By inserting himself into the narrative, Trump not only ignored this long-held position but also risked undermining India's sovereignty in the eyes of its own population and strategic community. India was livid at Trump equating Pakistan, a perpetrator of terror, with India, a victim of that terror.
Trump's narrow personal agenda is ruining India-US relations
Parallel to this geopolitical misunderstanding is Trump's habitual use of tariffs to achieve foreign policy aims. For Trump, this is part of his broader strategy of economic coercion, a belief that tariff threats would compel nations to yield to any kind of US demands. However, the assumption of the Trump team that nations and their leaders are driven solely by economic motivations has proved to be wrong as India has refused to flatter Trump by agreeing to his false claim of brokering peace between India and Pakistan.
India is not easily bullied. With a long-standing tradition of non-alignment and strategic autonomy, Indian policymakers were deeply offended by the assumption that trade threats could dictate foreign policy shifts. Trump's belief that India could be pressured into acknowledging his version of the Pakistan ceasefire, or into other concessions, with an economic stick only widened the rift.
The fallout is real and immediate. Rather than drawing India closer, Trump's approach is pushing it to hedge its bets. India has begun recalibrating its foreign policy, getting even closer to Russia and improving limited coordination with China. These shifts signal a reversal in long efforts that have gone into forging of India-US partnership.
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Why the Trump-Putin Alaska meeting may not ease tensions between India, US, and Russia
Moreover, Trump's overtures to Pakistan, culminating in the unprecedented lunch with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir, sent shockwaves through New Delhi. For Indian officials, this was not just bad optics; it was a betrayal. After years of building a shared Indo-Pacific vision with the US, and deepening military and intelligence cooperation, India saw itself being sidelined in favour of a short-term public relations win.
Underlying all of this is Trump's desire to portray himself as a global statesman. His repeated claims of resolving conflicts, from North Korea to the Middle East, often bear little resemblance to reality. In South Asia, the disconnect was especially stark. By claiming he "coerced" India into peace, Trump not only dismissed India's strategic autonomy but also tried to rewrite regional history to serve a narrow personal narrative.
Such distortion isn't just diplomatically clumsy, it is also strategically dangerous. It has led Indians to question the reliability of the US as a strategic partner. For a relationship that had taken decades to mature -- spanning defense, intelligence and economic cooperation -- this erosion of trust is a serious setback.
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Economic Times
14 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Ukraine's fate hangs in balance as Trump engages Putin in a high-stakes game behind closed doors
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads More about Trump-Putin summit U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have begun face-to-face talks in Alaska for a high-stakes summit that could determine the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and the fate of European allies have cast the U.S. president as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close, something he used to boast he could do quickly. For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russia's gains, block Kyiv's bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscow's are significant risks for Trump: By bringing Putin onto U.S. soil, the president is giving Russia's leader the validation he desires after his ostracization following his invasion of Ukraine 3 1/2 years ago. Any success is far from assured, especially as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their demands for joked in interview that he might start liking Hillary Clinton again It's because the former secretary of state said she'd nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize herself if he negotiates an end to Russia's war on Ukraine without Ukraine having to give up territory."Well, that was very nice," Trump said when asked about Clinton's comment during an in-flight interview with Fox News Channel. "I may have to start liking her again."Trump and Clinton were presidential rivals in 2016 and have had a contentious relationship. 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He is meeting with an adversary."But Clinton said that if Trump can negotiate a ceasefire, have Russia withdraw from the territory it seized and bring an end to the war without making Ukraine concede territory, she would join the Nobel and his allies have been lobbying for years for him to get the is studying up on his flight to Alaska, spokesman says Putin is scheduled to arrive at 11:00 a.m. local time Friday in Anchorage, where he will be met at the plane by Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russian state TV, an excerpt of which was published on reporter Pavel Zarubin's Telegram channel on to Peskov, during the four-hour flight from Magadan, Putin will review materials on Ukraine, bilateral tensions, economic cooperation, and global speaks to Putin ally as he heads to Alaska The president posted on his social media network that he had "a wonderful talk" with the president of Belarus, Aleksandr said their "good" conversation included a discussion of Putin's said they also spoke about the release of some prisoners earlier this year and the future release of prisoners. He did not offer says drone attacks hurt Putin's negotiating position Trump said Russian drone attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine are a misguided effort to improve Putin's negotiating position."Maybe it's a part of the world. Maybe it's just his fabric, his genes, his genetics," Trump told reporters traveling with him to the Alaska summit. "But he thinks that gives him strength in negotiating. I think it hurts him, but I'll be talking to him about it later."Trump also talked on Air Force One about economic benefits for Russia, while warning of more severe sanctions if the talks aren't fruitful."I noticed he's bringing a lot of business people from Russia, and that's good," Trump said. "I like that because they want to do business, but they're not doing business until we get to war settled."
Economic Times
16 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Trump and Putin Alaska summit: US-Russia peace talks on Russia-Ukraine War
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15. The meeting aims to discuss a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Trump says chances of success are low. The world is watching closely as tensions remain high. Key points: Trump, Putin, Alaska summit, Russia-Ukraine war, peace talks. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads When and Where will the frenemies meet Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How hopeful is White House FAQs The US President Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin would be embracing each other in Alaska on Friday, hoping to break the thaw over their negotiations for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine—as a three year long war between the neighbours shows no signs of meeting, set to happen in a city named Anchorage in Alaska, is expected to commence at 11:30 am on Anchorage time on August 15, and 3:30 pm on Eastern time zone, reports said. The meeting has the eyes of the whole of Europe glued, as the war between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of said that till now, Putin has fended off Donald Trump's attempts to strengthen arms into a deal, inviting the POTUS's ire and invoking frustration, as the peace deal was one of Trump's foremost promises during the however, Trump is known to be softer on Russia as compared to his negotiation tactics with other nations, as reports said that he actually pulled down Zelensky—publically—during an oval office meeting, blaming him for instigating World War has tried to play down expectations of a peace deal-- pinged on the Alaska summit--previously saying that he sees a 25% chance of a breakthrough being reached between him and President Putin in a recently released video footage with Fox News anchor Bret Baier from inside the Air Force One—on its way to Alaska—Trump is seen shrugging off the possibility of wasting too much time in Alaska if his objectives are not met.A video clip now doing the rounds on X—shows the POTUS in conversation with Fox New's Bret Baier. "work out very well — and if it doesn't, I'm going to head back home real fast." Trump told Baier while referring to his meeting with and Putin will meet in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15 at 11:30 am local time (3:30 pm Eastern time).Trump has said there is only a 25% chance of a breakthrough peace deal during the Alaska meeting.
Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Stalin hits out at Centre, pushes for state's rights
Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin in his Independence Day speech said state governments are closer to the people, and need greater power but with Union laws, court judgments, and discrimination in devolution of funds, states are being pushed into dependence on the Union Government. Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during the 79th Independence Day celebration at the State Secretariat, in Chennai on August 15(PTI) 'In the last few years, we have seen many attempts by the Union government to take away rights of the state governments in various sectors. State rights in key areas such as education and healthcare are instead being continuously eroded,' Stalin said, speaking at Fort St. George in Chennai on Friday after hoisting the national flag. 'The only solution to overcome this is to take political and legal steps to restore the role of state governments and devolution of power and funds.' That a state government has to always struggle, argue and file court cases to get its rightful funds from the Centre does not augur well for federalism, the chief minister said. 'After 14 years, in our Dravidian model regime, Tamil Nadu's economic growth has increased to 11.9 per cent and has touched a great new high,' he said and reiterated that the southern state is the fastest developing economy in India. Such a growth was not shared by any other big state.'The nation's growth rate itself is 6.5 per cent. However, Tamil Nadu has achieved 11.19 per cent growth,' he added. The CM conferred the Thagaisal Thamizhar (Distinguished Tamilian) Award on Indian Union Muslim League leader, 85-year old KM Khader Mohideen at the I-Day event. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan was presented with the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award. Awards under several other categories were also presented. Stalin who boycotted governor R N Ravi's 'at home' reception hosted in the Raj Bhavan on Independence Day over his attack on the ruling party, reiterated his criticism of the BJP-led Union government. 'It is not good for the federal principles of India for states to always have to fight, argue and file lawsuits to get its due funds. This will affect the development of the state as well as India,' Stalin said. A day ago, on Thursday, Stalin had decided to boycott the event at Raj Bhavan after the governor tore into the ruling DMK in his customary speech delivered on the eve of Independence Day, adding to the already soured relationship between governor Ravi and the Tamil Nadu government. DMK's allies, Congress, CPI (M), CPI, Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), also boycotted the event to protest against the governor, who they alleged, was acting against the interests of the state. The governor charged that the state is facing four major challenges– educational and social discrimination of the poor and marginalised; alarming rise in suicides; fast spreading drug abuse among youth; and steep rise in rape and other sexual offences against women and girls. Since Ravi became governor in 2021, he has been in loggerheads with the government over myriad issues by supporting policies of the BJP-led Centre such as NEP, NEET, walking out of the assembly without reading his customary speech and omitting portions of the speech prepared by the state, changing the name of Tamil Nadu to Tamizhagam in a public invitation released by the Raj Bhavan. But, it was his sitting on bills passed by the state legislation that led the government to move court against him based on which the Supreme Court in a landmark verdict on April 8 set deadlines for the President and governors to clear the bills passed by state legislatures. The top court also found governor Ravi's action keeping bills pending as illegal. President Droupadi Murmu on May 13 put forth 14 questions before the Supreme Court on constitutionality of its April 8 verdict. In response on Thursday, higher education minister Govi Chezhiaan said that the governor's actions as chancellor is the reason for many state universities functioning without vice chancellors. He announced that he will boycott two convocations at Alagappa University and Thiruvalluvar University to be held on August 18 and 19 while the chief minister will skip the governor's event. (With inputs from PTI)
