New Delhi: Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran has expressed doubts over the India-US relationship returning to its earlier strength, even if both nations successfully conclude a trade deal in the coming weeks.
Speaking to The Wire, Saran noted that while diplomatic efforts are underway to restore stability after months of turbulence under US President Donald Trump, the underlying strains are far from resolved.
“I cannot see our relations with the US – even if we manage to get a trade deal in the aftermath of our reduced purchases of Russian oil – just go back to where they were before the sanctions were put on India,” Saran said.
“And also, the kind of outreach which has been made to Pakistan by President Trump at a time when India-Pakistan relations are under so much tension… for people to think that with a trade deal and the oil issue behind us, relations can go back to normal — I don’t believe that is going to be the case,” he added.
🇮🇳 Strained India-US Relations
Ties between New Delhi and Washington have weakened sharply in recent months. India currently faces steep 50% tariffs imposed by the US administration, alongside several trade restrictions. The situation worsened after India refused to back Trump’s diplomatic initiatives, including his efforts to claim credit for averting a “nuclear war” with Pakistan.
Adding to the tension, India’s continued purchase of Russian oil has drawn criticism from Washington. Senior US officials have accused New Delhi of indirectly financing the Ukraine conflict, with one aide controversially calling India a “laundromat for the Kremlin.”
🤝 Trade Deal Talks Regain Momentum
Despite diplomatic friction, talks to finalize an India-US trade deal have resumed after stalling in August. Sources suggest that both sides are now close to reaching an agreement, possibly by November, with an ambitious goal to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
Trump recently claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured him that India would reduce its imports of Russian oil during a Diwali phone call. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs quickly denied knowledge of any such call, further complicating the narrative around the trade discussions.
🧭 Outlook
Experts believe that while the upcoming trade deal could boost economic cooperation, deep-rooted diplomatic issues and policy divergences will continue to test the strength of the India-US partnership. Saran’s remarks highlight the need for strategic realism — that transactional deals alone may not restore the mutual trust once seen in the bilateral relationship.
Originally published on newsworldstime.com.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
