Nikki Haley warns Trump: Losing India aids China
Tensions rose sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump announced steep trade measures against India, imposing a 25 percent reciprocal tariff along with an additional 25 percent levy. The move came in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil despite global pressure. The decision has sparked diplomatic unease, further straining relations between Washington and New Delhi.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has issued a stark warning to Washington: America cannot afford to mishandle its relationship with India at such a critical moment in global politics. Writing in a Newsweek op-ed published Wednesday, Haley cautioned that U.S.-India ties are now “at a breaking point” and must be repaired urgently if Washington hopes to contain China’s growing influence and ambitions.
Haley, who served in the Trump administration and remains a strong voice on foreign policy, reminded American leaders that New Delhi is not just another partner, but perhaps the most important ally in balancing Beijing’s rise. “The United States should not lose sight of what matters most: our shared goals,” she emphasized.
Her warning comes amid escalating tensions between the two democracies. The immediate spark was President Donald Trump’s decision to impose heavy trade penalties on New Delhi. Citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, Trump slapped a 25 percent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, followed by an additional 25 percent levy. For Washington, this was meant as pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to cut energy ties with Moscow. For New Delhi, however, it felt like an attack on its economic sovereignty and an overreach into its foreign policy decisions.
This tariff standoff was not an isolated incident. It followed months of friction over issues ranging from America’s role in facilitating India-Pakistan ceasefire talks to disagreements on global trade norms. While Haley defended Trump’s concerns—pointing out that India’s energy purchases “are helping to fund Vladimir Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine”—she strongly opposed the idea of treating India like an adversary.
“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 wrote. Her words reflect not just diplomatic concern but a sense of urgency.
interests in both economic and security terms. As the United States seeks to restructure global supply chains and reduce dependence on China, India offers a rare alternative—manufacturing capacity “at China-like scale” across industries ranging from textiles to smartphones and solar panels. In her view, no other country can play this role at such magnitude.
She also highlighted the growing defense ties between New Delhi and Washington, as well as India’s partnerships with other U.S. allies such as Israel. These relationships, Haley argued, make India not just a regional partner, but a “crucial asset to the free world’s security.”
Her op-ed carried both realism and hope. Reagan, she noted, told Gandhi that while the United States and India may sometimes “travel separate paths,” their “destination should remain the same.” For Haley, those words are.
In closing, she reiterated her central message: Washington must look beyond momentary disputes over oil, tariffs, or trade and instead focus on the bigger picture. “The United States should not lose sight of what matters most: our shared goals.
Haley’s call is both a warning and a reminder—that in a time of great power competition, no alliance can be taken for granted, and no relationship is more vital than the one between the world’s two largest democracies.