The optics were unmistakable. The smiles were broad, the handshake was warm, and the camaraderie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump appeared to have returned to the days of the grand “Howdy Modi” spectacle. After a gap of sixteen months, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, once again capturing global attention. But beneath the cordiality lies a far more important question: Can Bharat trust Donald Trump? If there is one certainty about Trump, it is his unpredictability. Within a span of months, he has swung from calling Bharat a “dead economy” to describing Narendra Modi as an “angel”, a “hard negotiator”, and even a “killer” in the positive sense of being an uncompromising leader who fights for his nation’s interests. What changed? Certainly not Narendra Modi. The change appears to have occurred in Washington. Trump is, above all, a transactional politician. He admires strength, not sentiment. And over the past year, Bharat has steadily enhanced its strategic relevance, making it impossible for even an erratic American President to ignore New Delhi’s growing influence. Several factors may explain Trump’s sudden effusiveness. First, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Bharat sometime in September. Moscow and New Delhi continue to enjoy robust strategic ties despite relentless Western pressure following the Ukraine conflict. Bharat has successfully resisted demands to abandon its longstanding partnership with Russia while simultaneously maintaining strong ties with the West. Second, relations between Bharat and China have witnessed noticeable improvement after years of border tensions. Both nations are cautiously rebuilding diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation. While strategic distrust remains, the reduction in hostility has altered the geopolitical landscape. For Washington, this is significant. America understands that if Bharat successfully balances relations with both Russia and China while retaining strategic autonomy, New Delhi’s dependence on Washington diminishes considerably. Trump knows this. Therefore, his praise may be less about personal affection and more about geopolitical necessity. The message is simple: America cannot afford to alienate Bharat.
The world also recognises a reality that some of Modi’s domestic critics continue to ignore. Narendra Modi is the only democratically elected leader governing a nation of 140 crore people for a third consecutive term with a strong national mandate. Whether one supports him politically or not, his global stature is undeniable. Perhaps that is why Trump repeatedly singled him out for praise. At one point, when asked whether Bharat had a role in restoring peace in West Asia, Trump’s response was unequivocal: “As long as this man is Bharat’s Prime Minister, Bharat has a greater role.” That statement was not merely diplomatic courtesy. It was an acknowledgment that Bharat has evolved from being a regional player into an indispensable global stakeholder. The biggest takeaway from this meeting, however, is that Prime Minister Modi did not surrender to Trump, contrary to allegations often made by sections of the Opposition. If anything, the interaction demonstrated Bharat’s growing confidence in dealing with the world’s most powerful nations. Modi neither reacted emotionally to Trump’s earlier insults nor allowed provocative remarks to derail national priorities. Instead, he stayed focused on accelerating economic growth, strengthening military self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat and expanding Bharat’s diplomatic footprint. That strategic patience appears to have paid off. Yet Bharat must remain cautious. Trump’s record leaves little room for unquestioning trust. Today he may praise Modi; tomorrow he may revert to imposing tariffs or making provocative statements if he perceives America’s interests to be at stake. His comments that America would stand with Bharat if anyone dared attack it may sound reassuring, but such declarations should not be mistaken for binding commitments. Trump’s foreign policy has always been guided by transactions rather than treaties. Similarly, Washington’s continuing engagement with Pakistan under the pretext of accessing critical minerals warrants careful scrutiny. It would have been interesting had a journalist directly asked Trump whether America intends to continue using Pakistan as a strategic counterweight in the subcontinent, despite Islamabad’s troubled history with terrorism. That question remained unanswered. For Bharat, therefore, the lesson is straightforward. Engage America. Deepen cooperation. Expand trade. Strengthen defence partnerships. But never become dependent. Bharat today is no longer a nation seeking validation from global powers. It is a nation increasingly setting the terms of engagement. Trump’s flattering words may make headlines, but Bharat’s foreign policy must remain anchored in realism rather than rhetoric. In diplomacy, there are no permanent friends or permanent adversaries — only permanent national interests. Trump understands that principle perfectly. The question is not whether Bharat can trust Trump. The question is whether Bharat is wise enough not to need to.
