Nikki Haley: India Must Be Treated as Partner, Unlike China
Nikki Haley Warns India-US Relations at Breaking Point Amid Trump’s Tariffs
The delicate balance of India-US relations is under severe strain as former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, sounded an urgent warning this week. Writing in a Newsweek op-ed on Wednesday, Haley said ties between Washington and New Delhi are “near a breaking point” following Donald Trump’s decision to impose punitive tariffs on India over its Russian oil purchases.
Haley, who served in Trump’s first administration but has remained a sharp critic even while endorsing his 2024 presidential bid, argued that the United States cannot afford to treat India as an adversary. Instead, she said, India must be valued as the “prized free and democratic partner that it is.”
Nikki Haley: Trump’s Tariffs Deepen Diplomatic Rifts
The tensions stem from the Trump administration’s decision to slap New Delhi with a 25 percent tariff on Russian oil imports, in addition to a similar duty already levied on Indian goods. The move has sparked outrage in India and heightened mistrust after months of friction over Washington’s insistence on playing a role in the India-Pakistan ceasefire negotiations—a proposal New Delhi firmly rejected.
Haley warned that pushing India into a corner risks undoing 25 years of momentum that made the two democracies natural partners in countering authoritarian influence in Asia. “Scuttling 25 years of momentum with the only country that can serve as a counterweight to Chinese dominance in Asia would be a strategic disaster,” she wrote.
India as a Strategic Counterweight to China
Haley’s message was clear: India-US relations are indispensable for America’s foreign policy goals. As Washington aims to outcompete Beijing, India’s role in securing supply chains, supporting military partnerships, and ensuring regional stability cannot be ignored.
“In the short term, India is essential in helping the United States move critical supply chains away from China,” Haley explained. With its massive manufacturing potential, India is uniquely placed to produce goods at scale—from textiles to solar panels—while Washington rebuilds its own industries.
India’s growing defence ties with allies like Israel also bolster its role as a security partner. Moreover, New Delhi’s expanding influence in the Middle East, Haley argued, could help stabilize the region as Washington reduces its military footprint there.
Nikki Haley: India’s Long-Term Geopolitical Weight
Looking beyond immediate trade tensions, Haley highlighted India’s demographic and economic rise as one of the defining global shifts of the century. With more than 1.4 billion people, India surpassed China as the world’s most populous nation in 2023, armed with a young workforce that contrasts sharply with China’s ageing population.
“India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and its rise is among the greatest obstacles to China’s ambition of reshaping the global order,” Haley wrote. “Simply put, China’s ambitions will have to shrink as India’s power grows. Unlike Communist-controlled China, the rise of a democratic India does not threaten the free world.”
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