India-US Relations: Francis Fukuyama Slams Donald Trump for Damaging Strategic Ties over Nobel Ambitions

Washington: Renowned American political scientist and author Professor Francis Fukuyama has sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies toward India, claiming they have undermined decades of strategic cooperation. Speaking to France 24, Fukuyama said, “For the past 30 years, the United States has sought to strengthen ties with India to counterbalance China. Donald Trump has thrown all of that away, driven by personal ego and a failed quest for the Nobel Prize.”

Trump’s Policies Strain India-US Relations
Fukuyama emphasized that Trump’s grievances stemmed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s refusal to support his Nobel Peace Prize nomination. “Trump placed his personal ambitions above the long-term national interests of the United States, weakening an essential strategic partnership,” Fukuyama said.

This is not the first critique of Trump’s India policy. Several former U.S. National Security Advisors, economists, and think-tank experts have raised concerns over Trump’s repeated targeting of India after assuming a second term. He has publicly criticized India’s rapidly growing economy, once labeling it a “dead economy,” and imposed high tariffs on Indian goods.

Ten Key Actions that Strained Relations

1. Imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods citing trade deficit and high tariffs.
2. Added an extra 25% tariff due to India’s purchase of Russian oil.
3. Tightened H-1B visa rules affecting Indian IT professionals.
4. Publicly labeled India as the “Tariff King” multiple times.
5. Offered mediation on the Kashmir issue despite India’s objections.
6. Claimed credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire efforts repeatedly.
7. Praised Pakistan’s “counterterrorism role,” sparking discontent in India.
8. Met Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir twice.
9. Provided $580 million for F-16 fighter jet repairs and upgrades to Pakistan.
10. Held meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Experts Warn of Long-Term Impact
India-US strategic experts, including Brahma Chellaney, former U.S. NSA Jake Sullivan, and ex-NSA John Bolton, have criticized these policies, noting that Trump’s transactional approach has eroded trust and reduced bilateral ties to a minimal level. Bolton recently remarked that the manner in which Trump handled India relations is “deeply troubling” and could have serious long-term implications for U.S. national interests.

As trade negotiations remain unresolved and geopolitical tensions with China persist, experts warn that repairing the damage to one of the world’s most important strategic partnerships will require sustained effort and careful diplomacy.

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