Snapping ties with India would be a strategic disaster in face of China's dominance: Nikki Haley warns Trump

In a Newsweek op-ed, Haley said the US-India relationship is at a breaking point and it should immediately be brought "back on track".

Haley said the Trump administration should not let the tariff war, disputes over Russian oil and India-Pakistan truce drive should not drive a wedge between Washington and New Delhi.

She wrote, "To achieve the Trump administration's foreign policy goals-outcompeting China and achieving peace through strength-few objectives are more critical than getting US-India relations back on track."

"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."

Haley underlined that India, like China, is capable of producing various goods at a large scale that can't be done in the US.

She has also drawn the attention to India's military ties with US and its allies that Haley says "make it a crucial asset to the free world's security". 

Donald Trump (L) and Nikki Haley (R). Photo: Nikki Haley/X

In the short term, India is essential in helping the United States move its critical supply chains away from China. While the Trump administration works to bring manufacturing back to our shores, India stands alone in its potential to manufacture at China-like scale for products that can't be quickly or efficiently produced here, like textiles, inexpensive phones, and solar panels.

"When it comes to defense, India's expanding military ties with the United States, Israel, and other American allies make it a crucial asset to the free world's security, and a rapidly growing market for U.S. defense equipment and cooperation. India's growing clout and security involvement in the Middle East could prove essential in helping to stabilize the region as America seeks to send fewer troops and dollars there. And India's location at the center of China's vital trade and energy flows could complicate Beijing's options in the case of a major conflict.

Meanwhile, China will resume supply of fertilisers, rare earth minerals and tunnel boring machines to India, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured this to India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as the two South Asian giants have normalised their ties moving on from the deadly Galwan clash in 2020.

Wang Yi assured this during his two-day visit to India earlier this week.

Meeting Yi in New Delhi, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities.

"I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity."

In a major diplomatic push, Russia has welcomed Indian goods to its market in the backdrop of the simmering bilateral tension between New Delhi and Washington.

A senior Russian diplomat on Wednesday said if India finds it difficult to enter into the US market, Russia will welcome Indian exports to its backyard.

".. If Indian goods are facing difficulties entering the US market, the Russian market is welcoming Indian exports....," Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said as quoted by NDTV.

Babushkin called the US sanctions on India for purchasing Russian oil "unjustified" and hoped the India-Russia ties will withstand the "external pressure".

The diplomat added as quoted by the broadcaster, "It is unjustified. We are confident that India-Russia energy cooperation will continue notwithstanding the external pressure."

"The sanctions are hitting those who are imposing them. It is a challenging situation for India but  we have trust in our ties."

The remark came after the White House on Tuesday said Trump sanctioned India to put pressure on Russia and end the Moscow-Kyiv war.

Speaking to the reporters, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Look, the president has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He's taken actions, as you've seen, sanctions on India and other actions as well."

"He's made himself very clear that he wants to see this war end, and he has scoffed at the ideas of others that have been raised that we should wait another month before any meeting takes place."

The Trump administration, which was earlier viewed as India-friendly, has slapped a 25 percent tariff on the South Asian country for its high tariffs on American exports and another 25 percent for purchasing oil from Russia which is fighting a war against Ukraine.

The White House, which has singled out India over Russian oil purchase, said the second 25 percent tariff will be effective from August 27, 2025.