Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has urged President Donald Trump to treat India as a “prized free and democratic partner,” warning that undermining ties with New Delhi would amount to a “strategic disaster” at a time when China is expanding its influence.
In an opinion piece published in Newsweek, Haley argued that “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.”
She said strengthening US-India relations is critical for global stability, especially as Washington seeks to reduce its dependency on Beijing.
“India must be treated like the prized free and democratic partner that it is — not an adversary like China, which has thus far avoided sanctions for its Russian oil purchases, despite being one of Moscow's largest customers. If that disparity does not demand a closer look at U.S.-India relations, the realities of hard power should,” Haley wrote.
Haley stressed that “unlike Communist-controlled China, the rise of a democratic India does not threaten the free world. Partnership between the U.S. and India to counter China should be a no-brainer.”
She underlined that India can manufacture goods like textiles, affordable smartphones, and solar panels at a scale comparable to China's, which are sectors where the US cannot quickly scale up domestically. “In the short term, India is essential in helping the United States move its critical supply chains away from China,” she said.
Haley also pointed to India’s expanding defence capabilities and growing role in the Middle East as vital assets for regional stability. “India's growing clout and security involvement in the Middle East could prove essential in helping to stabilise the region as America seeks to send fewer troops and dollars there,” she wrote, adding that India’s geographical location could complicate Beijing’s energy and trade routes in a potential conflict.
Citing India’s rapid economic growth, Haley called it “the world's fastest-growing major economy,” soon set to overtake Japan, and described its rise as “the greatest obstacle to China's goal of reshaping the global order. Simply put, China's ambitions will have to shrink as India's power grows.”
She also referenced the Galwan Valley clash of 2020, noting India’s ongoing territorial disputes with China as another reason for Washington to deepen cooperation with New Delhi.
Haley cautioned against escalating trade tensions between the US and India, after Washington imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods and announced another 25% hike effective August 27, raising total duties to 50%. She said it would be a “massive — and preventable — mistake to balloon a trade spat into an enduring rupture,” warning that China could exploit the rift.
She further advised New Delhi to “take US President Donald Trump's point on Russian Oil seriously and work with the White House to find a solution.”
Calling for urgent steps to repair relations, Haley urged Trump to “reverse the downward spiral” and engage in direct talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The sooner the better,” she said, pressing for more high-level attention to India on par with what Washington devotes to China or Israel.
“The administration should focus on mending the rift with India and giving the relationship more high-level attention and resources,” she wrote, adding: “To face China, the United States must have a friend in India.”