India Maintains Strategic Alignment with United States Despite Trump Administration Strains, Driven by China Threat (warontherocks.com)

• Trump administration imposed tariffs and made mediation claims; India refrained from retaliation.
• India's primary strategic concern is China, which has economic and military advantages.
• Partnerships with Russia, Japan, Australia, or rapprochement with China cannot replace the US.
• India will continue to lean on the US unless American willingness or power declines.

"India has endured tariffs, diplomatic slights, and mediation claims from the Trump administration without retaliating, because it sees no alternative to the US as a balancer against China's growing power. China's economy is five times larger than India's, and its military advantages in fighters, carriers, and drones are widening. India's other options—Russia, Japan, Australia, or resolving differences with China—are insufficient to replace American support. India will continue to prioritize the US partnership unless American reliability or power fundamentally diminishes."