Washington, March 10 (NationPress) The tariffs that the US implemented on India in 2025 led to a significant "crisis of trust" between the two nations and decelerated progress in the Quad alliance, as outlined in a report by Democratic members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The report indicates that the high tariffs introduced by the Trump administration in August 2025 strained diplomatic relations with India, a key strategic partner for Washington in the Indo-Pacific.

“In India, a nation where previous five American Presidents and bipartisan Congressional efforts sought to cultivate a lasting strategic partnership, President Trump imposed tariffs… so excessive that it instigated a crisis of trust in the relationship,” the report elaborated.

The document mentions that the impasse lasted for six months, fueled partly by tensions regarding India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil and Washington’s attempts to take credit for mediating the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.

Moreover, the report suggests that the dispute bolstered political factions in India historically opposed to closer strategic ties with the United States.

“The crisis empowered voices in India aligned with Russia, who have long resisted substantial cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies,” stated the report.

The strains also impacted the Quad coalition, comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia.

The report indicated that the conflict “stalled momentum” in the Quad framework and caused the deferral of an anticipated US–India Leaders’ Summit.

This diplomatic hiatus offered openings for both China and Russia to enhance their engagement with New Delhi.

The report highlights multiple meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this time.

It also pointed out PM Modi’s visit to China — his first in seven years — as an illustration of how geopolitical dynamics evolved amidst the dispute.

The report underscores that these developments reveal how tensions between Washington and New Delhi can alter strategic alignments in Asia.

The Indo-Pacific region holds pivotal importance in global geopolitics, representing approximately half of the world’s population and nearly two-thirds of the global economy, as noted in the report.

For the United States, fostering strong partnerships in this region — especially with India — is deemed essential to counterbalancing China’s expanding economic and military influence.

However, the Senate report cautions that inconsistent policies toward allies may jeopardize this strategic approach.

“In the past year, tariff policies, the cessation of foreign aid programs, and fluctuating commitments to allies… have raised doubts about America’s dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the report stated.

The report further mentions that China has exploited these tensions by amplifying military activity in the Taiwan Strait and enhancing economic sway across the region.

The findings arise at a time when the United States and India aim to bolster defense cooperation and technology partnerships while navigating differences over trade and Russian policy.