In an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Nozar Shafiei stated: “While India-U.S. relations in the past decade were considered one of the pillars of Washington’s Asia-Pacific policy, during Donald Trump’s second administration, increasing rifts have cast a shadow over the relations between the two countries; especially since Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, sent a clear message to the White House by canceling his trip to Malaysia and refusing to meet with Trump.” He added: “New Delhi’s recent behavior is not merely a diplomatic reaction, but a sign of a gradual shift in India’s strategic view of America’s role in international equations. Resuming oil purchases from Russia, increasing military interactions with China at the regional level, and Modi’s reduced willingness for direct talks with Trump are all signs of an unprecedented chill in bilateral relations.”
This South Asian affairs expert believes: “The reason for tensions between the two countries is not solely economic, but rather rooted in differing political viewpoints. Trump, by imposing heavy tariffs on Indian goods, restricting exports of sensitive technologies, and pressuring to cut energy imports from Russia, has effectively pushed one of America’s most important economic partners towards Moscow and Beijing.” Shafiei recalled: “The cancellation of Modi’s meeting with Trump, and the delegation of talks to India’s Foreign Minister, is a sign of structural distrust.” He emphasized: “New Delhi does not want to be in a position where it feels humiliated or weakened by the unpredictable statements of the U.S. President, especially in a situation where competition with China and sensitivity towards Pakistan remain determinants of Indian public opinion.”
He also noted: “This rift may widen further, as China and Russia, within the frameworks of BRICS cooperation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, have provided a new space for India’s more active presence alongside them.” From his perspective, “New Delhi’s gradual tilt towards the East is a natural response to Trump’s unpredictable policies, which have even caused America’s closest partners to doubt the continuity of cooperation.”

Smart Balancing: Strategic Independence Amid Structural Dependence
Shafiei further emphasized: “The strategic ties between New Delhi and Washington are so deep that neither is capable of completely severing them.” In his belief, “India in recent years has followed a model of strategic independence amid structural dependence, meaning that while engaging with the U.S., it has never been willing to relinquish its independence in foreign policy completely.”
He noted: “In global equations, especially after the Ukraine war, New Delhi seeks to play a role that balances between Washington, Moscow, and Beijing. From this perspective, India neither joins the Western camp nor fully integrates into the Eastern axis.” According to the International Relations professor, “India’s policy of active multilateralism has allowed the country to both participate in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with the U.S., Japan, and Australia, and cooperate in mechanisms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with China and Russia.”
He added: “New Delhi has well understood that direct confrontation with the U.S. is neither in the interest of India’s geopolitical standing nor beneficial for the national economy; therefore, in the face of Trump’s tariff policies or threats of secondary sanctions, India has acted with a kind of patient and moderating diplomacy.” Shafiei continued: “India knows well that America, on its path of competing with China, needs a stable partnership in South Asia, and this is precisely the point that New Delhi uses as a lever of influence.”

Chabahar: The Point of Convergence of Applied Policy and Strategy
Nozar Shafiei, in another part of the interview, stated: “Despite all the existing issues in the relations between the two countries, the port of Chabahar stands out as one of the few areas where Washington and New Delhi have reached an understanding. The U.S. government, in a rare move, has once again extended the sanctions exemption for Chabahar.” The university professor explained: “For America, Chabahar is not just an infrastructure project, but a tool for maintaining influence in regional transportation and transit equations; especially against China’s projects in Gwadar port and the Belt and Road Initiative.”
From the expert’s perspective, “By granting this exemption, the United States has effectively allowed India to expand its economic presence in the Iran-Afghanistan-Central Asia axis without fear of sanctions; a presence that, while strengthening regional ties, also helps balance against China’s increasing influence.”
In Shafiei’s belief, “The port of Chabahar is fundamentally important for India not only economically but also from a geopolitical perspective. This port is New Delhi’s vital route for access to Central Asia and Eurasia. At the same time, it is a communication bridge between India’s foreign policy and Iran’s strategy.” He recalled: “The Trump administration has well understood that Chabahar can simultaneously provide trilateral benefits for Washington, New Delhi, and even Kabul, and for this reason, it has refrained from canceling its exemption.”
This International Relations professor noted: “The future of India-U.S. relations depends on the extent of the two countries’ adaptability to the changes in the global order.” In his view, “If Washington can move beyond Trump’s personal and sometimes provocative policies, there is a possibility of rebuilding U.S. trust with New Delhi; otherwise, the current rift may turn into a long-term rupture.”
Nozar Shafiei emphasized in conclusion: “India has today reached a stage of political maturity where it can balance among the great powers while preserving its national interests. From this perspective, the relations between New Delhi and Washington are no longer one-sided, but rather part of a multi-layered equation in which Chabahar has become a symbol of both cooperation and competition in the evolving world of today.”