Trump Looked Like a Tense Schoolboy – What Will Modi Government Do After the Trump-Xi Meeting?
Trump’s China truce unsettles India. Experts tell Barkha Dutt why Modi’s government must rethink strategy to stay relevant in a transactional world.
Just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “killer Prime Minister” and “nicest looking politician,” he stunned global observers by announcing a truce with China. The one-year rare earths deal with Xi Jinping and a sharp cut in tariffs to 47% signaled a potential reset in U.S.-China ties. Barkha Dutt, on Mojo Story, spoke with senior journalist Tavleen Singh and former diplomats Ambassador Dilip Sinha and Ambassador Gurjit Singh on what this means for India.
Tavleen Singh warned that India risks “falling off the map” if it doesn’t recalibrate its strategy. “Trump only respects countries that buy from him,” she said, suggesting India offer tangible trade incentives like defense and energy deals to stay relevant.
Ambassador Dilip Sinha called the Trump-Xi meeting “expected but worrying,” adding that traditional alliances like the Quad and Indo-Pacific may lose relevance if Washington leans toward Beijing. He urged India to “wake up to a new world where there are no permanent allies.”
Ambassador Gurjit Singh pointed out that India has “few levers to pull” compared to China but must protect its interests by negotiating pragmatically, even if that means limited imports of U.S. farm goods.
Conclusion:
As Barkha Dutt summed up, “The world is moving toward a transactional, Trumpian order—one where India must prioritize self-interest over sentiment.” The panel agreed that India’s diplomacy needs fresh strategy and agility to navigate a shifting global balance.
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