"The cooperation that took root between India and the United States at the turn of the 21st century centered on shared values: The two countries could together help shore up democracy and human rights in a world where the influence of authoritarian powers, specifically Russia and China, held ever greater sway. Former President Barack Obama described the relationship between the two nations as potentially "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century." That was before the politics of both countries began traveling in a more authoritarian direction."
"Trump has brought new turbulence to relations between the U.S. and India. Back in May, the president claimed to have brokered a cease-fire between India and Pakistan following a brief conflict between the two nations. Trump then repeated that claim more than 20 times. Any form of mediation in India's relationship with Pakistan is a delicate subject in New Delhi, understood as an assault on the nation's sovereignty; Trump's boasts opened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to vociferous criticism and boxed him into a defiant, nationalistic position."
"Then, on July 30, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on India, with additional unspecified penalties on account of India's purchases of Russian oil and weapons. Modi, in part because he was keen to demonstrate Indian autonomy, showed no inclination to halt those purchases. Trump's response came a week later, on August 6: He doubled the tariffs to 50 percent."
On August 27, President Donald Trump's 50 percent tariffs on India went into effect, marking one of the steepest levies and a significant rupture between the two largest democracies. U.S.-India cooperation had emerged around shared values and efforts to bolster democracy and human rights against rising authoritarian influence from Russia and China. Political trends in both countries shifted toward more authoritarian directions. Trump's repeated claims of brokering a cease-fire between India and Pakistan provoked criticism in New Delhi and pushed Prime Minister Narendra Modi toward a nationalistic posture. Trump first imposed a 25 percent tariff on July 30 and doubled it to 50 percent on August 6, citing India's purchases of Russian oil and weapons, which Modi declined to halt.
Read at The Atlantic
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