This book explores India-US relations and addresses the questions: Did India-US relations strengthen under Trump 1.0? Was there greater political, diplomatic, strategic, and defense cooperation between the two largest democracies in the world under the Trump administration? Was there increasing convergence or divergence at the bilateral and multilateral level, in relations with third countries, and in the realm of regional security and geopolitics?

The contributors to this edited volume offer nuanced insights, highlighting that the answers are not straightforward. They highlight those bilateral ties flourished during the Modi-Trump era, fuelled by the camaraderie between the two leaders and shared concerns over China’s rise. However, differences remained on issues such as democracy, trade, multilateralism, climate change, and regional security, especially within the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. The Trump administration, particularly President Trump, played a key role in shaping these dynamics.

This book is relevant reading for students, scholars, and researchers of international relations, political science, and South Asian studies, particularly those interested in US-India relations, geopolitics, global governance and international especially Asian security. Additionally, this volume will be of interest to practitioners and policymakers involved in South Asia, US foreign policy, the Indo-Pacific and international diplomacy.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of India Review.

Raj Verma is Associate Professor at Shanghai International Studies University and a Non-Resident Scholar at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies, Elliott School of International Affairs, the George Washington University. He is the editor/co-editor of seven special issues/sections and author of more than 40 articles published in journals. His research is focused on India’s and China’s foreign and security policy, Sino–India–US-Russia-Pakistan relations, Asian security issues and International Relations theory.