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Hello, I am Priyanka Salve, writing to you from Singapore.<\/em><\/p>\n Welcome to the latest version of <\/em>“inside india<\/em>“ – Your one-stop destination for stories and developments from the world’s fastest growing major economy.<\/em><\/p>\n For more than two decades, successive US administrations have viewed India as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. But the stance of the current US administration seems to be in favor of Beijing while punishing India. This week, I explain how the US-China summit could impact New Delhi’s equation with Washington.<\/em> <\/p>\n read on!<\/em><\/p>\n Any thoughts on today’s newsletter? <\/em>share them<\/em> With the team.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands as they depart after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. <\/p>\n Andrew Harnik | getty images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n India, whose importance in US foreign policy has been shaped by differences between Washington and Beijing, will be keeping a close eye on the meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n When the summit between the world’s top two economies begins later in the day, India will be hoping that Trump’s soft stance towards China will lead to no trade-offs that will diminish New Delhi’s role in the Indo-Pacific, experts said.<\/p>\n If Trump prioritizes a bilateral grand bargain with Beijing, India would have “reasonable concerns that the United States will treat China as a central negotiating partner in Asia rather than as a central strategic challenge,” Raunak D. Desai, visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, told CNBC.<\/p>\n Therefore, “India will need to make it harder to ignore its strategic value,” Desai said, adding that this would mean that the US-India relationship would have to deliver more concrete results in areas such as defence, maritime security, critical minerals, energy and manufacturing.<\/p>\n Trump and Xi last met in November in Busan, South Korea, where the US President called Xi.A very tough negotiator,” and said the two sides have “always had very good relations.” Meanwhile, Xi urged Beijing and Washington to be “partners and friends.” During the meeting, Trump also Cited China and America<\/a> As G2.<\/p>\n “He (Trump) favors strong-arming leaders,” Nirupama Rao, former Indian ambassador to the US, China and Sri Lanka, told CNBC’s “Inside India” on Monday. He pointed to Trump’s cordial approach toward Xi in recent days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For more than two decades, successive US administrations have deepened ties with India as a measure to balance China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Experts say that as the world’s largest democracy, India is seen as a natural partner of the US in contrast to China’s one-party government.<\/p>\nbig story<\/h2>\n
Changes in American foreign policy<\/h2>\n