A Friend in War, a Foe in Trade?
In the fragile aftermath of the recent India-Pakistan military standoff, a moment that tested South Asia’s geopolitical nerves and forced the world to confront the realities of cross-border terrorism, India stood firm. Our soldiers, armed forces, and diplomatic corps showed the world what Satya (truth) and Shaurya (courage) look like when a nation is pushed to the wall. In those critical hours, when Pakistan once again allowed its soil to be used as a launching pad for terrorist aggression, the world watched closely to see how New Delhi would respond.

And India did respond—with clarity, with resolve, and without apology.

It was in these very moments of existential alertness that the United States, under former President Donald Trump’s ideological hangover, issued what can only be described as lukewarm statements. Trump’s team attempted to "balance" the narrative, issuing vague calls for “restraint” on both sides, as if the line of blood drawn by Pakistani-backed terrorism and the line of discipline drawn by Indian sovereignty were morally equal.

Fast forward to today: the same man who refused to unequivocally back India when it was under threat is now threatening Apple with a 25% tariff if it continues making iPhones in India. A country that weathered a military standoff, offered humanitarian rescue missions like Operation Sindoor, and aligned itself with Western values of free enterprise is now being punished for its industrial progress. This is not policy—it’s hypocrisy wearing a red tie.

Operation Sindoor and the Illusion of Partnership
The world had barely begun to recover from the shockwaves of the Israel-Gaza conflict when India launched Operation Sindoor—a civilian evacuation mission that stunned the world in its speed, discipline, and humanitarian excellence. Countries whose defense budgets dwarf ours were left scrambling, while India, through military precision and moral clarity, emerged as a symbol of action in an era of hesitation.

At the time, America applauded. Even Trump loyalists in U.S. policy circles praised India's assertiveness, calling it a “testament to shared democratic values.” The same Donald Trump, who now claims iPhones "should not be made in India,” had once described India as “a true friend” and “natural ally.”

Yet, when Apple begins making high-end electronics in India—thereby creating Indian jobs, supporting local suppliers, and reducing dependence on Chinese sweatshops—Trump suddenly raises the specter of economic punishment. Why? Because India dared to rise. Because India, a once-colonized, now-capitalized democracy, had the audacity to become self-reliant.

Make no mistake: Operation Sindoor revealed the capability of India. Trump's tariffs now reveal the insecurity of the West. The same nation that praises India in times of crisis turns against it when we begin to succeed economically. That’s not an ally—it’s a rival in disguise.

Strategic Ally or Convenient Scapegoat?
Trump’s worldview, like much of old-guard American foreign policy, is transactional. Alliances are not built on trust or shared values, but on deals and leverage. When Trump wanted to sell weapons, he called India a reliable partner. When he wanted to target China, he propped up India as the democratic counterweight. But now that India stands to gain from Apple’s diversification away from China, he invokes “America First” and threatens to hurt Indian manufacturing. Where was “America First” when China was dumping steel, or when Pakistan harbored terrorists?

This duality is not new. After the India-Pakistan conflict, Trump continued to call for mediation, positioning the U.S. as a “neutral” force. But neutrality in the face of terrorism is complicity. What India needed was clarity, and what Trump offered was ambiguity. His refusal to call out Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism directly was not just a failure of diplomacy—it was an exposure of Washington’s opportunistic alliances.

India must now ask: Are we a partner only when we are buying arms, but a problem when we are building phones? Are we a democracy worthy of praise only when evacuating citizens, but a threat when competing on the global supply chain? This is not partnership. It is economic colonialism wearing the mask of cooperation.

The Spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat vs. The Specter of Economic Bullying
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) campaign, critics in the West smirked. Yet today, that vision has placed India in a powerful position within global supply chains. Companies like Apple, Foxconn, and Pegatron are investing billions into India—not just to manufacture cheaper, but to manufacture better. Tamil Nadu is fast becoming an electronics hub. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida are becoming global innovation centers.

But the rise of India poses a challenge to Trump’s inward-looking economic doctrine. The threat to slap a 25% tariff on iPhones made in India is not about jobs in Ohio or factories in Michigan. It is about punishing a nation that refuses to remain a junior partner in the Western global order.

Trump’s tariff threat is a symptom of fear masquerading as nationalism. He is not protecting American jobs; he is undermining Indian sovereignty. And let’s not forget, this is the same Trump who had no qualms about giving tax breaks to companies outsourcing to China while blaming India for “high tariffs.” The irony could not be richer, nor the hypocrisy more evident.

India is not asking for favors. We are asking for respect. We are not here to steal markets—we are here to build ecosystems. If that unsettles Trump’s ego, so be it.

India’s Path Forward: Assertiveness Without ApologyIndia must now learn from this unfolding episode and recalibrate its global posture. First, let us shed the illusion that the West, and especially populists like Trump, see India as an equal partner. Second, we must realize that self-reliance is not just economic policy—it is strategic defense.

The need of the hour is to accelerate indigenous manufacturing, deepen regional trade alliances, and continue bilateral ties with nations that respect Indian sovereignty without strings attached. Japan, France, Australia, the UAE—these nations have consistently demonstrated mutual respect in action, not just in press releases.

India’s response to Trump’s threat should not be meek appeals for reconsideration. It should be a redoubling of our commitment to self-reliance, an expansion of Apple’s base in India, and a policy framework that rewards companies willing to treat India as more than a workshop. If Apple bends to pressure and scales back in India, India should consider giving preference to brands that support long-term technological partnerships, not short-term appeasement.

And to Donald Trump: India is not a footnote in your campaign speech. It is a civilizational force with a $3.7 trillion economy, the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, and a military that does not flinch in the face of threats—from Pakistan or from protectionist populists.

The India-Pakistan conflict showed the world who stands for peace and who funds terror. Operation Sindoor showed who evacuates civilians while others pontificate. Trump’s iPhone tariff threat now shows who truly respects India's rise and who fears it. The verdict is clear: Trump’s version of friendship is one where India is useful, but never equal.

India must rise not by asking for validation, but by commanding respect through strength. We’ve won wars, lifted millions from poverty, and launched missions to the Moon. Building iPhones should not invite punishment—but if it does, then let it be known: we’ll build them better, bigger, and bolder than ever before.

Because India is not for sale, and we are not here to be tolerated—we are here to lead.