The Trump administration’s foreign policy approach between 2017 and 2021 emphasized a recalibration of global power dynamics, favoring a multipolar framework that aligned with India’s strategic priorities. During this period, bilateral trade between India and the U.S. grew by approximately 30%, from 119 billion in 2016 to 146 billion in 2020, despite pandemic-related disruptions, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Key sectors driving this growth included defense, energy, and pharmaceuticals, with U.S. oil exports to India surging 210% in 2019 alone, as reported by the Energy Information Administration. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), revitalized in 2017, saw heightened collaboration, marked by joint naval exercises such as Malabar 2020, which expanded to include all four member nations—India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia—for the first time in 13 years.
Defense cooperation reached unprecedented levels under the Trump administration, with India signing defense contracts worth over 20 billion with U.S. firms between 2017 and 2021. Notable agreements included the 3.5 billion procurement of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and the $2.6 billion deal for Apache attack helicopters. India’s designation as a Major Defense Partner in 2016, reinforced under Trump, streamlined technology-sharing mechanisms, enabling access to advanced systems like armed drones and satellite communication technology. Joint military exercises, such as Yudh Abhyas and Tiger Triumph, increased in frequency, with participation numbers rising by 25% compared to the previous administration, per Indian Ministry of Defense data.
Diplomatic engagements during this period focused on counterbalancing China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Department of State allocated $1.5 billion in 2020 for regional infrastructure initiatives under the Blue Dot Network, complementing India’s Connectivity Partnerships in Asia and Africa. India’s imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose by 70% between 2017 and 2020, reducing reliance on traditional suppliers and diversifying energy security avenues. Additionally, the U.S. supported India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), with 83% of Congressional members endorsing the move in a 2020 bipartisan resolution.
Technological collaboration emerged as a cornerstone of bilateral ties, with the U.S. granting India Strategic Trade Authorization (STA-1) status in 2018, easing export controls on sensitive technologies. This facilitated partnerships in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space exploration, including NASA-ISRO joint missions such as the NISAR satellite project, slated for launch in 2024. Indian tech firms secured
18 billionin U.S. contracts during Trump’s tenure, per NASSCOM, while U.S. investments in India’s renewable energy sector crossed 10 billion in 2020, aiding India’s target of 450 GW renewable capacity by 2030.
The Trump administration’s withdrawal from multilateral agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal created nuanced challenges but opened avenues for India to assert leadership. India’s solar energy capacity doubled to 40 GW between 2017 and 2021, positioning it as a key player in global climate forums. Meanwhile, U.S. sanctions on Iran prompted India to reduce oil imports from the country by 95%, redirecting purchases to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the U.S., as per Petroleum Ministry reports. India’s diplomatic balancing act—maintaining ties with Russia via the $5.4 billion S-400 missile system deal while deepening U.S. relations—highlighted its ability to navigate multipolarity without overt alignment.
Healthcare collaboration gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the U.S. providing.
50 million in aid to India through USAID and partnerships like the Indo−U.S. Vaccine Action Program. Serum Institute of India’s production of Novavaxvaccines, backed by U.S.funding, underscore dsynergies in pharmaceutical innovation. However, trade disputes over tariffs on steel, aluminum, and ICT products persisted, with the U.S. imposing1.3 billion in levies on Indian exports in 2019, later partially revoked under the 2020 trade deal.
In multilateral forums, India and the U.S. aligned on WTO reforms, advocating for transparency in dispute resolution and curbing non-market practices by state-owned enterprises. India’s participation in the U.S.-led Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure reinforced climate diplomacy, attracting
2.1 billion in globa linvestments by 2021. Academic exchanges also flourished, with Indian students constituting 187.7 billion annually to the U.S. economy, per the Open Doors Report.
The Trump era’s emphasis on bilateralism over multilateralism dovetailed with India’s preference for issue-based coalitions. For instance, India’s membership in the Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement, facilitated by U.S. support, enhanced its non-proliferation credentials. Conversely, India’s abstention from U.S.-led resolutions on Venezuela and Iran at the UN reflected its autonomous foreign policy stance. By 2021, 85% of Indian respondents in a Pew Research Survey viewed the U.S. favorably, up from 70% in 2016, signaling strengthened public diplomacy.
In summary, quantitative metrics across trade, defense, technology, and diplomacy illustrate a tangible convergence of Indian and U.S. interests during the Trump administration. Data on bilateral agreements, multilateral engagements, and sectoral growth underscores how structural shifts toward multipolarity provided India with strategic flexibility to advance its global ambitions.
