Faced with trade tensions, Washington is trying to mend fences with India

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in India for a strategic diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening relations between Washington and New Delhi, as trade tensions and geopolitical questions weaken ties between the two partners.

This visit comes at a delicate time for US-Indian relations. The president's administration Donald Trump India recently launched new trade investigations that are worrying Indian authorities. New Delhi is now considering several options to protect its economic interests in the face of what it considers a more aggressive US policy.

Marco Rubio is scheduled to participate in meetings with the foreign ministers of the Quad, the strategic group comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. This alliance is considered a key pillar of the American strategy to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

However, some Indian officials and analysts fear a possible "downgrade" in bilateral relations with Washington. Trade differences and certain diplomatic priorities of the Trump administration are fueling doubts about the strength of the strategic partnership between the two democracies.

Within the US administration, several diplomats nevertheless believe that Marco Rubio plays a key role in maintaining dialogue with New Delhi. A senior US official involved in the bilateral relationship has even been nicknamed the "India whisperer" for his ability to strengthen ties with Indian authorities.

Beyond trade issues, this visit should also allow for discussions on regional security issues, including stability in the Indo-Pacific and technological and military cooperation between the two countries.

For Washington, preserving a strong relationship with India appears to be a major strategic issue, as the United States seeks to consolidate its Asian alliances in an increasingly tense international environment.