Washington, D.C. – Nikki Haley, who used to be the U.S. ambassador to the UN, is asking the Trump administration to quickly fix its relationship with India. She says that the two countries need to work together to stop China’s growing power in the world. Haley and Bill Drexel wrote an opinion piece for Newsweek in which they say that the recent introduction of punitive tariffs on India could undo 25 years of diplomatic gains.
The warning comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 6 that put an extra 25% tax on goods coming from India. The 50% levy on several Indian commodities was a punishment for India’s “direct or indirect” purchase of oil from Russia.
Haley said in her op-ed that the U.S. has a good reason to be worried about India’s energy trade with Russia, but the way Washington is going about it is wrong and could end up helping China. She said that China, which buys the most oil from Russia, has not been hit with the same kinds of sanctions. She said this sends the message that the U.S. sees India as an enemy instead of a “prized free and democratic partner.”
Haley said that India’s growing dominance is good for the free world in terms of geopolitics. She pointed out India’s:
Economic Power: India’s growth as the world’s fastest-growing major economy is a big problem for China’s goals.
Supply Chain Alternative: India is the only country that can make things on a “China-like scale” because it has such a huge industrial capability. This means that the U.S. needs to move its important supply chains away from Beijing.
Strategic Military Partner: India’s growing military relations and its important placement along China’s main trade and energy corridors are important for U.S. security.
Stabilizing Force: India’s expanding role in keeping the peace in the Middle East might help make the area more stable, which would let the U.S. send fewer troops and resources there.
Haley told President Trump to “reverse the downward spiral” by having direct meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said that India should listen to the U.S. concerns over Russian energy and try to find a solution, but the U.S. should not forget its “shared goals.” She ended by saying, “The United States needs a friend in India to deal with China.”