The India-US relationship has become rather strained under the Donald Trump administration with the imposition of 50% tariffs, growing support for Pakistan and continued swipes at its diplomatic policies. Billionaire businessman Harsh Goenka however stressed the importance of an India-US partnership on Thursday — outlining seven key reasons why it remained a necessary route for New Delhi.
The U.S. is currently the largest trading partner for India — with total bilateral trade reaching $131.84 billion in 2024-25. New Delhi also had a $41.18 billion trade surplus with the US during this time period.
Why does it matter?
Goenka outlined seven key points in his post to underscore the importance of a partnership with the US. There were:
1. US is still the sole superpower: largest economy, strongest military, biggest global influence.
2. India’s biggest trading partner is the US, not China.
3. India runs a $40B trade surplus with the US, but a $100B deficit with China
4. Strategic benefits: defense, tech, innovation, and democratic alignment.
5. In crises (Bangladesh ‘71, Kargil, food aid in droughts), US support has been decisive.
6. No other country, neither China nor Russia, can be trusted as a long-term partner.
7. Rebuilding trust with the US is about India’s growth, security, and global stature.
Strained India-US ties?
Ties between India and the US have become increasingly strained in recent months — with the Donald Trump administration halting trade negotiations to impose a 25% tariff on imports earlier in August. An additional 25% levy is set to be implemented within days for continued purchase of Russian oil.
President Donald Trump has also touted his role as peacemaker and negotiator in the India-Pakistan clash — despite repeated clarifications from New Delhi debunking the claim. The POTUS insisted about 35 times over the past few months that he averted ‘nuclear war’ in south Asia. He also credited himself for personally brokering a ceasefire and even referenced incidents such as fighter jets being shot down.