Washington, D.C., USA: Over the last twenty years, India and the United States have developed a broad and layered relationship encompassing defence collaboration, technological cooperation, academic exchanges, and strong people-to-people connections.

According to a prominent India–U.S. policy analyst, the year 2025 has become a period of serious strain for relations between New Delhi and Washington. The partnership has faced intensified trade disputes and a renewed diplomatic focus by the United States on Pakistan. Despite these challenges, both nations have continued to achieve low-profile yet meaningful advancements in areas such as defence, technology, and energy cooperation.

Calling the year a critical stress test for bilateral ties, Dhruva Jaishankar, executive director of Observer Research Foundation America, said that 2025 has highlighted two major hurdles affecting the relationship. Speaking to IANS in an interview, he emphasised that these challenges have shaped the current diplomatic climate between the two strategic partners.