Washington, Oct 21 (NationPress) Walter Russell Mead, a prominent authority on American foreign policy, has emphasized the necessity for stronger India-US relations, describing the enhancement of ties with India as an “essential strategy” to counter China in the near term and “establish a robust defensive coalition for the future.”

In a piece titled ‘India still wants to collaborate with Trump’ published in the Wall Street Journal, Mead, who serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the Hudson Institute, expressed confidence that despite recent tensions, the “Trump administration is well-equipped to elevate US-India relations to unprecedented heights.”

“In terms of technology policy, fostering strong connections among the US, India, and allied nations like Israel and Japan presents a viable approach to counter the Chinese ambition for dominance in a strategic sphere. On regional matters, the interests of the US and India are largely aligned. The Chinese attempts to influence nations such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka pose threats to both India and the US,” he further elaborated.

Mead contended that the current camaraderie between the Trump administration and Pakistan is unlikely to “gain enduring affection from Mr. Trump,” given Islamabad’s “concerning history” regarding nuclear proliferation and terrorism.

“During the Cold War, America valued Pakistan as a partner against the Soviet Union. However, in the emerging cold war with China, Pakistan has allied itself with Beijing. It has a concerning background in promoting illegal nuclear proliferation and is implicated in supporting terrorism,” he remarked.

Earlier this month, Mead led a US delegation to India, engaging with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials like Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Following the delegation's meeting, Prime Minister Modi shared on X, “I appreciated the interaction with a US delegation of scholars and business leaders led by Mr. Walter Russell Mead. I value their contributions to strengthening India-US relations and advancing our partnership for global peace, progress, and prosperity.”

Reflecting on his recent visit, Mead noted that most Indians are hopeful about the new US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, achieving a “successful mission.”

“In discussions with Indian government, opposition, and business leaders, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi downwards, your Global View columnist received a consistent message: India’s political and business leaders still aspire to collaborate with the US,” he stated.

In recent weeks, the relationship between India and the US has stabilized following months of ongoing tensions. Trade negotiations are currently in progress to finalize the initial phase of an agreement soon.

Mead also asserted that failing to address the outstanding issues in India-US relations would represent an “inescapable blemish” on the Trump presidency.

“A strengthened US-India relationship would stand as one of the president’s most notable achievements. Conversely, failure would mark an enduring stain on his record and complicate matters for his successors. Let us hope Mr. Trump discovers a viable path forward,” he concluded.