Squaring Trump’s Indo-Pacific plan with India’s ties to Iran and Russia
Earlier this week, the Trump administration outlined its initiative to counter China’s growing economic influence in the Indo-Pacific, announcing a plan to provide $113.5 million in seed funding and push the U.S. private sector to invest in the region. Already, it’s clear that the plan is insufficient to match the scale of Chinese investment in the region.
The big picture: Another key challenge for the Trump administration will be how to reconcile its Indo-Pacific strategy with its approach to foreign adversaries. India is central to this challenge, with its close historical ties to both Russia and Iran. As the U.S. pursues punitive measures against those countries, it also risks undermining significant progress in the U.S.–India relationship made over the last 15 years.
