Trump's Policy Pendulum: Eroding Trust in U.S.-India Ties or Strategic Maneuvering?

Donald Trump's recent vacillation between lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slapping a 50% tariff on Indian goods over Russian oil purchases has cast a shadow over the once-celebrated "special relationship" between the U.S. and India. This policy pendulum—swinging from personal praise to economic punishment—raises alarms about the stability of their alliance. Is Trump's approach a calculated move to enforce U.S. interests, or a reckless erosion of trust that could push India closer to China and Russia? As Modi steadfastly defends India's strategic autonomy, the global community watches to see if this turbulence will redefine international alliances or merely test the resilience of a partnership built on mutual benefit.