US decision to boost defense ties and offer F-35s ‘is neither unexpected nor surprising’ as Trump ‘understands he has to keep India on the right side,’ says International Crisis Group’s Praveen Donthi

The US and India have been edging closer together for years. Washington sees India as a key regional counterweight against a more assertive China, while for New Delhi, the US has become an increasingly important source of foreign investment and a partner for trade and security.

India and the US aim for $500 billion trade by 2030, strengthening defence, AI, and semiconductor ties, despite tariff disputes.

The partnership is a pillar of Washington’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific region but faces challenges on issues including illegal immigration, visas and trade deficits.

U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose reciprocal tariffs from early April is feeding anxiety in India's export sectors from autos to agriculture, with Citi Research analysts estimating potential losses at about $7 billion a year.

India’s top officials said they will continue to cut import taxes as the government looks to work around US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on trading partners.