US President-elect Donald Trump, who shares a strong bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to continue strengthening US-India ties, building on the progress made during his first term, according to Lisa Curtis, his former South Asia point person at the White House. Curtis, who served as Deputy Assistant to Trump and Senior Director for South and Central Asia from 2017 to 2021, discussed the future of US-India relations in an interview with PTI.
Curtis anticipates that challenges from Trump’s first term, such as tariffs, India’s reliance on Russia for arms, and oil purchases from Iran, will likely persist. However, she believes Trump’s positive relationship with India will enable him to pick up where he left off, further solidifying the partnership. “President Trump clearly has goodwill toward India, and I see this as an opportunity to continue building the relationship,” Curtis said.
During Trump’s first term, the US-India relationship saw significant elevation, driven by India’s growing importance and shared concerns, particularly regarding China. Curtis highlighted the personal bond between Trump and Modi, citing events like Modi’s address to 50,000 Americans in Houston and Trump’s rally with 100,000 Indians in Ahmedabad, which reinforced their relationship. She noted progress in defense ties, including the lifting of technology controls on India and its acquisition of armed drone technology, as well as the creation of the Quad during this period.
However, Curtis acknowledged some bumps in the road, particularly when Trump used tweets to address Indian tariffs, a move seen as a negotiating tactic. While these tweets caused some tension, they did not overshadow the broader relationship. Curtis suggested that similar incidents could occur in the future, but added that both sides are now more prepared for Trump’s transactional, deal-making approach.
Looking ahead, Curtis emphasized that strengthening the security partnership should be a priority, as both the US and India share concerns about China’s growing influence, particularly in technology and regional dominance. The mutual interests of both countries in countering China’s rise are expected to drive continued cooperation.
