Modi’s India takes on Trump more openly, from ‘terrorism’ to tariffs

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: India is adopting a more openly critical tone towards the United States as tensions grow between the two countries under President Donald Trump, with trade, Pakistan, terrorism and immigration emerging as major sources of friction.

Speaking at an Asia Society event in New York following the United Nations General Assembly, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar offered a blunt assessment of the relationship. He said Washington had not shown enough understanding of India’s concerns over “terrorism”, had moved closer to its archrival Pakistan and pursued “self-centred” trade policies that have affected developing countries.

The comments mark a shift from New Delhi’s traditionally cautious approach to disagreements with Washington. For decades, India has generally preferred to address sensitive issues with friendly countries quietly and behind the scenes. The India-US relationship has also enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Washington.

But months of disagreements have pushed New Delhi towards a more public response to the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s foreign policy.

“If I stand back and look at the [India-US] relationship, I note that much of the world has had a more difficult relationship with the US,” Jaishankar said, adding that this was “not a consolation” but a reality.

Trade has been a major flashpoint. The United States was India’s largest trading partner in 2025, with bilateral goods trade reaching $149.1 billion and India recording a $58.4 billion surplus.

Jaishankarcriticised policies that he said were overly focused on national interests, arguing that countries should consider how their decisions affect others. He also highlighted differences between the two economies, particularly agriculture, where India has long protected its farmers by keeping parts of its market closed.�"AL JAZEERA