Changing Contours of India’s Indo-Pacific Strategic Posture and Priorities Amid the U.S. Tariff Trap

The Indo-Pacific has emerged as one of the most strategic and significant arenas of India’s foreign policy posture and priorities in recent years. The region represents a massive economic potential, encompassing major trade routes, resources, and growing markets. The region is also marred with various non-traditional security challenges, along with China’s expansionism and the great power rivalry between the United States (U.S.) and China. The recent imposition of steep and targeted tariffs by the U.S. on Indian goods in 2025 as a part of punitive measures against India’s Russian oil imports has induced a profound shift in India’s strategic posture. Being a major stakeholder and a potential leading power in the region, India is supposed to expedite its commitment to strategic autonomy, ensure regional balance, and promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific vision while ensuring a rule-based order in the region. Therefore, the paper aims at analysing the new contours of India’s foreign policy position amidst the growing turbulent India-U.S. relations. It further examines how India balances its regional ambitions by strengthening the India-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and diversifying its partnership with the European Union (EU), the strategic pragmatism displayed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025, and the reinforcement of India-Japan's partnership as a crucial technology and investment hedge in the Indo-Pacific. Thus, this paper indeed provides a strategic view of India’s shifted policy priorities in the Indo-Pacific.

Indo-Pacific, India, United States, China

1. Basu, P. (2025, April 2). Japan in India’s Northeast: Infrastructure, Innovation, Impact. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/japan-in-india-s-northeast-infrastructure-innovation-impact [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Deccan Herald. (2025, October 10). Trump has claimed that he stopped Operation Sindoor using trade 50 times now: Congress. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/trump-has-claimed-that-he-stopped-operation-sindoor-using-trade-50-times-now-congress-3759314 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Fernandes, J. (2025, August 7). Trump tariffs on India explained: Timeline, structure, impact, exemptions, and more— here are 8 key things to know. Livemint. https://www.livemint.com/economy/donald-trump-us-tariff-duty-india-explained-faqs-timeline-structure-sectors-impact-cost-trade-exemptions-economy-news-11754554955632.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Gaurav, G. & Rathore, S. (2025, August 14). Coercion or Cooperation? Trump’s Tariffs on India Undermine Indo-Pacific Vision. The Diplomatist. https://diplomatist.com/2025/08/14/coercion-or-cooperation-trumps-tariffs-on-india-undermine-indo-pacific-vision/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Gaurav, G. & Rathore, S. (2025, September 20). Balancing Indo-Pacific Dream: India at SCO Summit. The Diplomatist. https://diplomatist.com/2025/09/20/balancing-indo-pacific-dream-india-at-sco-summit/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Inamdar, N. (2025, August 27). Trump's 50% tariff on India kicks in as Modi urges self-reliance. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ykznn158qo [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. International Monetary Fund. (2025, November 26). IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with India. https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2025/11/24/pr-25392-india-imf-executive-board-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Kalita, Karishma Saurabh. (2025, October 13). PM skips Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. Who does he not want to meet? India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-gaza-peace-summit-egypt-pakistan-pm-shehbaz-sharif-us-president-donald-trump-2802144-2025-10-13 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2025, August 4). Statement by Official Spokesperson. https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/39936/Statement_by_Official_Spokesperson [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2025, June 18). English Translation of Foreign Secretary's statement on the telephone conversation between PM and US President (June 17, 2025). https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/39692/English_Translation_of_Foreign_Secretarys_statement_on_the_telephone_conversation_between_PM_and_US_President_June_17_2025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2025, November 25). Joint Press Release on the 11th India - EU Foreign Policy and Security Consultations and the 6th India-EU Strategic Partnership Review Meeting in Brussels. https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/40336/Joint_Press_Release_on_the_11th_India__EU_Foreign_Policy_and_Security_Consultations_and_the_6th_IndiaEU_Strategic_Partnership_Review_Meeting_in_Brusse [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Ministry of External Affairs. (2025, August 29). 15th India-Japan Annual Summit Joint Statement: Partnership for Security and Prosperity of our Next Generation (August 29, 2025). https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/40062/15th_IndiaJapan_Annual_Summit_Joint_Statement_Partnership_for_Security_and_Prosperity_of_our_Next_Generation_August_29_2025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2025, November 17). Japan-India Relations (Basic Data). https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/india/data.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Press Information Bureau. (2023, November 15). Text of Vice-President’s address at the 2023 edition of the “Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue”. Vice President’s Secretariat. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1977077 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Press Information Bureau. (2024, February 20). Japan commits Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of Japanese Yen (JPY) 232.209 billion for nine projects in various sectors in India. Ministry of Finance. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2007319&reg=3&lang=2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Press Information Bureau. (2025, August 20). India and Eurasian Economic Union sign Terms of Reference to launch FTA negotiations. Ministry of Commerce & Industry. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2158480&reg=3&lang=2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Press Information Bureau. (2025, November 16). Commerce Secretary reviews the India–Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement negotiations in Moscow. Ministry of Commerce & Industry. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2190478&reg=3&lang=2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Rathore, S. & Gaurav, G. (2025, September 23). Anchoring Indo-Pacific Stability: India-Japan in Harness. The Diplomatist. https://diplomatist.com/2025/09/23/anchoring-indo-pacific-stability-india-japan-in-harness/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Ritesh. (November 26, 2025). European Union top leadership to be chief guests at India's Republic Day 2026. CNBC TV 18. https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/european-union-top-leadership-to-be-chief-guests-at-india-republic-day-2026-19772697.htm [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Sinha, S. (2022, September 10). India stays out of Indo-Pacific trade pillar. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/why-india-opted-out-of-joining-trade-pillar-of-ipef-for-now/articleshow/94106662.cms [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Teekah, E. (2025, November 21). Indo-Pacific. Britannica Editors. https://www.britannica.com/place/Indo-Pacific [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. The Economic Times. (2025, September 6). PM Modi cancels address at UNGA General Debate in the US. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/pm-modi-will-not-address-general-debate-at-high-level-unga-session/articleshow/123729051.cms [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. The Hindu. (2025, April 16). U.S. remains India’s largest trading partner for fourth consecutive year in 2024 -25: Government data. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/us-remains-indias-largest-trading-partner-for-fourth-consecutive-year-in-2024-25-government-data/article69455572.ece [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. The Raisina Hills. (2025, August 8). Quad Leaders’ Summit in Doubt as US-India Spat Deepens. https://theraisinahills.com/quad-leaders-summit-in-doubt-as-us-india-spat-deepens [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. The Times of India. (2025, July 17). India’s bullet train project on track! Japan’s newest E10 high-speed trains to run on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route; what you should know. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/infrastructure/indias-bullet-train-project-on-track-japans-newest-e10-high-speed-trains-to-run-on-mumbai-ahmedabad-route-what-you-should-know/articleshow/122494147.cms [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. The Times of India. (2025, November 25). Trump’s H-1B visa and immigration crackdown: Indians look at EB-1A visa route – all you want to know. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/trumps-h-1b-visa-immigration-crackdown-indians-look-at-eb-1a-visa-route-all-you-want-to-know/articleshow/125557992.cms [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Wadhwa, Anil. (2025, November 21). The India EU FTA- Current State of Play; the Remaining Issues and Possible Solutions. Vivekananda International Foundation. https://www.vifindia.org/article/2025/november/21/The-India-EU-FTA-Current-State-of-Play [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar