By: Gavin Thorne
(SeaPRwire) – The handshake at the G7 summit signaled a cold reality for New Delhi. Modi smiled, but the warmth of previous years had evaporated. Trump’s America First agenda now overshadows the friendship cultivated during his first term. India misjudged the second term, banking on once friendly relations. They have yet to start recovering from that strategic blunder. The bear hug is gone, replaced by transactional distance. Washington favors nimble diplomacy over rigid historical grievances. Islamabad quietly clawed its way back to credibility while New Delhi stalled. This shift first became apparent in May 2025. The geopolitical pendulum has swung violently against India’s long-standing stance.
President Trump announced a ceasefire between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in May 2025. The fighting had come over India-administered Kashmir and was the worst in decades. Islamabad promptly praised Trump for ending the deadly dispute. They even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. New Delhi rejected the claim, insisting the ceasefire was the result of direct bilateral talks. This response reflected India’s long-standing sensitivity to third-party involvement. Frictions only deepened in the months following. President Trump hit India with some of the steepest tariffs imposed on any major economy.
U.S. sanctions pressure on Russian oil rattled energy import-dependent India. Disputes over H-1B visas added further strain. Analysts say Trump’s agenda increasingly overshadowed the friendship Modi had cultivated. When Trump said the May 2025 clash ended because of him personally, that upset India a lot. Then the tariffs were another slap in India’s face. Meanwhile, Pakistan took advantage, leaving India at a bit of a loss. India is among the countries most indirectly affected by the strategic fallout from the Iran war. New Delhi summoned Washington’s Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks, expressing deep concern over the renewed attacks.
Three Indian seafarers became collateral damage in the conflict. They were the first and only seafarers confirmed killed as part of the U.S. blockade. This sparked outrage across India. India warned of the broader humanitarian, economic, and energy consequences. All the while, Pakistan was gaining diplomatic visibility. Islamabad found itself in the unusual position of currying favor in Washington. They maintained deep ties with China, Iran and the Gulf states. Pakistan’s prominent role highlighted how Islamabad has been more nimble in its diplomacy than India. Islamabad decisively outmaneuvered India’s quixotic bid to isolate Pakistan on the world stage.
Trump, who accused Pakistan of deceit and lies during his first term, has since repeatedly praised its leadership. In June 2025, the president invited Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir to the White House. Munir was the first Pakistani military chief who was not also president to be hosted. He also led the war effort against India earlier that year. Trump described Munir as his favorite Field Marshal and an exceptional human being. Their relationship has been further reflected in trade deals. Pakistan’s role as a principal mediator in restoring diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran was key. India tried to make Pakistan an international pariah.
Pakistan’s mediation role has allowed it to substantially reset its international image, positioning itself as a responsible international actor rather than a rogue state, yet analysts caution these are rapidly evolving dynamics with no guarantee that Pakistan’s current moment will last, and the tide for India could still turn depending largely on whether Pakistan finds a way to remain in Trump’s good books and changes its behavior sufficiently to convince the world that it has indeed turned over a completely new leaf.
Author bio: Gavin Thorne, an investigative journalist tracking special interests and legislative affairs based in Washington, D.C.