Trump Presidency to Strengthen India-US Ties, Former Aide Predicts

New Delhi : As US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to begin his second term, a former White House aide predicts that India-US relations will continue to flourish, building on the progress made during his first term. Lisa Curtis, who served as Deputy Assistant to Trump and Senior Director for South and Central Asia from 2017 to 2021, shared her insights in an interview with PTI, highlighting the strong bond between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Curtis believes the personal rapport between the two leaders, demonstrated through events like Modi’s 2019 address to 50,000 Americans in Houston and Trump’s speech before 100,000 Indians in Ahmedabad, will help strengthen the US-India partnership. “Trump has good feelings and goodwill toward India, and he’ll continue to solidify this relationship,” Curtis said.

Under Trump’s first term, ties between the two nations were elevated, particularly in defense and technology. India gained access to US defense technology, including armed drones, and both countries made strides in their security and strategic cooperation, including the launch of the Quad alliance.

However, Curtis acknowledged that there were challenges, particularly around Trump’s frequent tweets on Indian tariffs, which sometimes created friction. She suggested that while similar challenges could arise in the future, both sides are now better prepared for Trump's "transactional" negotiating style.

Looking ahead, Curtis emphasized that the priority for both countries should be strengthening their security partnership, particularly in light of mutual concerns about China's growing influence in the region. “Both the United States and India have a strong interest in countering China's attempts to dominate the technology market and become the hegemon in Asia,” she said.

As the two nations continue to align their strategic priorities, the next phase of US-India relations under Trump is poised to deepen their cooperation on security, technology, and trade.