Grand Tamasha

The Precarious State of U.S.-India Ties

Feb 26, 2025

Rajesh Rajagopalan, a Professor of International Politics at Jawaharlal Nehru University and an expert in U.S.-India relations, offers insightful takes on the recent Modi-Trump meeting. The discussion covers two contrasting narratives about the visit and the precarious state of U.S.-India ties amid a volatile political climate. Rajesh emphasizes the stagnation in defense collaborations and India's technology transfer demands. The conversation also touches on challenges posed by China and the implications of Elon Musk's influence on diplomacy.

54:59

Episode guests

Rajesh Rajagopalan

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Quick takeaways

Modi's visit to Washington highlighted two contrasting narratives that reflect the precarious and complex nature of U.S.-India relations.

The stagnation in bilateral ties is underscored by unresolved trade disputes and a lack of meaningful progress in security cooperation.

Deep dives

Diverging Narratives on Modi's Washington Visit

There are two main narratives regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. The first portrays Modi as having successfully balanced Indian interests while simultaneously providing Trump with early victories that may set a positive tone for future cooperation. The second narrative, however, expresses concern that U.S.-India relations are vulnerable and could suffer under a transactional leadership that may disrupt the partnership at a critical time for India. These contrasting perspectives highlight the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the bilateral relationship.

Intro

2min

Navigating U.S.-India Relations

16min

Rebranding Initiatives: Unpacking the U.S.-India Relationship

3min

Navigating U.S.-India Defense Relations

16min

Navigating Uncertainty in U.S.-India Relations

5min

Navigating U.S.-India Relations

6min

India's Evolving Global Standing: Challenges and Realities

6min

There are two narratives doing the rounds about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Washington to break bread with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The first narrative, touted by the government and its backers, is that Modi skillfully threaded the needle with Trump, standing up for Indian interests but also giving the President some important early wins that can position India well for the future. The second narrative suggests a more pessimistic vision: that U.S.-India relations are at a precarious juncture, where a volatile and transactional President just might upend bilateral ties at a time when India can scarcely afford it.

To discuss where U.S.-India ties sit in the aftermath of the Modi visit, Milan is joined on the show today by Rajesh Rajagopalan. Rajesh is professor of International Politics at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He is an expert on nuclear policy, Indian foreign policy, and U.S.-India relations. He’s also the author of a new article in ThePrint titled, “India-US ties stuck in cute acronyms. Delhi must wait out the chaos.”

On this week’s show, Milan and Rajesh discuss Joe Biden’s foreign policy legacy, India’s longstanding demands for technology transfers, and the plateauing in bilateral ties. Plus, the two discuss Delhi’s view on Elon Musk and the future of U.S.-China relations.

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