The significant diplomatic capital that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally invested in the relationship with the United States is being severely tested by President Donald Trump’s public denunciation of India. The UN speech has raised questions about the return on that investment and the viability of a foreign policy so heavily reliant on personal relationships.
A hallmark of the Modi era has been a focus on leader-to-leader diplomacy. The Prime Minister has cultivated close personal ties with world leaders, with the relationship with Trump being the most prominent example. These relationships were seen as a key asset, capable of advancing India’s interests.
Trump’s speech has exposed the limits of this approach. Despite years of warm interactions and public praise, the personal bond with Modi did not prevent Trump from launching a hostile public attack on India’s policies and honor. The diplomatic capital built up through personal chemistry proved to be of little value when a major policy disagreement arose.
This has put the Modi government in a difficult position. It now has to defend a strategy that appears to have failed a crucial test. The opposition can argue that the focus on personal ties has been a distraction from fundamental policy conflicts and has left India vulnerable to the whims of an unpredictable leader.
While personal diplomacy will always play a role in international relations, the UN incident is a stark reminder that it cannot be a substitute for strong, institutionalized relationships built on a durable foundation of shared interests and mutual respect. The test for Modi now is to salvage the relationship on a more resilient basis than personal friendship alone.
