‘Reverse the downward spiral’: Nikki Haley urges US to strengthen ties with India

File photo: Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (Picture credit: ANI)

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has called on Washington to strengthen its partnership with India, warning that undermining decades of progress in relations would be a “strategic disaster.”In an opinion piece for Newsweek, Haley described India as a “prized free and democratic partner” and argued that its rise should be seen as a benefit to the free world, unlike Communist-controlled China, which she said poses a threat.“Partnership between the US and India to counter China should be a no-brainer,” she wrote.Haley underlined that India alone has the capacity to produce goods at a scale comparable to China, making it vital for shifting critical supply chains away from Beijing. “In the short term, India is essential in helping the United States move its critical supply chains away from China. While the Trump administration works to bring manufacturing back to our shores, India stands alone in its potential to manufacture at a China-like scale for products that can’t be quickly or efficiently produced here, like textiles, inexpensive phones, and solar panels,” she wrote in Newsweek.She also pointed to India’s increasing defence capabilities, deeper security ties in the Middle East, and its strategic location along China’s trade and energy routes as key advantages for Washington. “India’s growing clout and security involvement in the Middle East could prove essential in helping to stabilise the region as America seeks to send fewer troops and dollars there,” she added.Haley stressed that India’s economic rise is reshaping the global balance. As the world’s fastest-growing major economy, soon set to overtake Japan, India represents “the greatest obstacle to China’s goal of reshaping the global order. Simply put, China’s ambitions will have to shrink as India’s power grows,” she wrote.Citing the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and ongoing border disputes, Haley said the US should help New Delhi stand firm against Beijing both militarily and economically. She also warned that letting a trade dispute escalate into lasting damage could play into China’s hands.The former envoy urged US President Donald Trump to “reverse the downward spiral” in ties with India by holding direct talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The sooner the better,” she wrote, while advising India to take Trump’s concerns over Russian oil purchases seriously and work with Washington to find solutions.As per news agency ANI, Haley concluded that the US must not lose sight of its “shared goals” with New Delhi. “To face China, the United States must have a friend in India,” she said.The remarks come amid recent tensions after Washington imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, with an additional 25 per cent levy set to take effect on August 27, raising the total duty to 50 per cent.