# Strategic convergence no longer principal driver of India-US ties

2026-08-07T20:47:22+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The US is shifting from a partnership driven by shared fear of China to one based on reciprocal strategic and economic value, The Hindu reports. President Trump’s latest tariffs on India are not just a trade dispute but a signal of ‘flexible realism’: an approach that puts American national interest above strategic convergence. Washington now judges partners by tangible benefits, not shared values. For India, this means closer cooperation on defence, critical technologies and supply chains will depend on what it brings to the table, not merely on China’s rise.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com <https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-changing-logic-of-the-india-us-partnership/article71318903.ece>

Tags: China factor, flexible realism, India-US relations, strategic autonomy, trade tariffs, Trump administration
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