NEW DELHI – On his recent visit to India, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio predictably touted India as one of America’s “most important strategic partners,” citing the two countries’ shared values, “people-to-people ties,” and strategic alignment on “all of the key issues that will define the new century.” But this familiar language of partnership rings increasingly hollow.
Much has been said about the impact U.S. President Donald Trump’s public insults and weaponization of tariffs have had on America’s relations with India. But the bilateral relationship was under pressure well before Trump’s return to the White House in 2025. In recent years, as India’s regional standing has been steadily eroded by China’s expanding strategic footprint, the United States has pursued policies in India’s strategic backyard that have disregarded Indian interests — and sometimes run directly counter to them.
Bangladesh is a case in point. After the military-backed ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, the U.S. endorsed regime change. But India knew this posed serious risks, which have since materialized: Bangladesh is now gripped by Islamist violence, jeopardizing stability on India’s eastern flank.
