India’s continued purchase of weapons and energy from Russia is raising difficulties in its relationship with the United States that are extending across the Indo-Pacific. This is not just a bilateral irritant. It has implications for the effectiveness of the Quad, regional stability and the long-term challenge of constraining China’s ambitions. The US-India relationship has always required careful handling, but the return of Donald Trump to the presidency has brought fresh volatility. Trump’s frustration with the ongoing war in Ukraine—and with countries he views as insufficiently supportive of US efforts to isolate Russia—is now focused on India. His administration is reportedly considering secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, and India’s substantial increase in Russian energy imports is drawing fire.
India, the US and the Quad: managing tensions to meet the China challenge | The Strategist
