WASHINGTON– Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has cautioned President Donald Trump against jeopardizing ties with India amid escalating tensions over tariffs, calling for a swift course correction to safeguard one of America’s most vital strategic partnerships.
In an opinion article published Wednesday in Newsweek, Haley argued that U.S.-India relations are too important to risk over disputes involving trade and energy. She said India should not be placed in the same category as China, warning that treating New Delhi as an adversary rather than a partner would be “a massive — and preventable — mistake.”
“To achieve the Trump administration’s foreign policy goals — outcompeting China and achieving peace through strength — few objectives are more critical than getting U.S.-India relations back on track,” Haley wrote.
The comments follow the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 25 percent tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil, in addition to existing duties on Indian imports. The move has fueled tensions, particularly after New Delhi rejected U.S. involvement in India-Pakistan peace efforts.
Haley, who endorsed Trump for the 2024 election but has not shied from voicing criticism, stressed that India must be recognized as “the prized free and democratic partner that it is.” She noted that China, despite being Moscow’s largest oil customer, has thus far avoided similar sanctions.
“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 warned.
Haley pointed to India’s growing importance in global supply chains, particularly in manufacturing areas where the U.S. cannot easily compete, such as textiles, affordable smartphones, and solar panels. She also highlighted India’s value as a defense partner, citing its deepening ties with U.S. allies like Israel, and its potential role in stabilizing the Middle East as Washington scales back its military presence.
“Simply put, China’s ambitions will have to shrink as India’s power grows. Yet, unlike Communist-controlled China, the rise of a democratic India does not threaten the free world,” she wrote.
Haley, the first Indian American to serve in a U.S. cabinet-level position, also criticized what she called Washington’s double standard in its treatment of India and China. On August 6, she posted on X that “India shouldn’t be buying oil from Russia, but China — our adversary and the leading buyer of both Russian and Iranian oil — received a 90-day break from tariffs. Why penalize India while giving China a free pass?”
Her intervention comes as India braces for the full impact of Trump’s tariff escalation. On August 19, India’s Commerce Ministry said nearly $50 billion worth of exports will be affected once the 50 percent tariff hike takes effect on August 27.
Haley concluded that India’s rise, powered by its youthful workforce and fastest-growing major economy, represents one of the most significant geopolitical shifts since China’s ascent — and that the U.S. cannot afford to squander this partnership. (Source: IANS)
