Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has strongly urged Washington to deepen its partnership with New Delhi, warning that rolling back decades of progress in US-India relations would amount to a “strategic disaster.”

In a sharply worded opinion piece, Haley argued that India must be seen as a “prized free and democratic partner” in countering China’s global ambitions. She cautioned that lumping India with adversaries like China, particularly on issues such as energy trade with Russia, ignores the broader reality of shared democratic values and security interests.

“Unlike Communist-controlled China, the rise of a democratic India does not threaten the free world. On the contrary, it strengthens it. A strong India-US partnership to counter Beijing’s aggression should be the most obvious foreign policy priority,” Haley wrote.

Haley highlighted several key areas where India’s role is critical to American interests. She stressed that India’s manufacturing capabilities can provide the US with an alternative to China for essential goods such as textiles, solar panels, and budget electronics. She also underscored India’s expanding defense strength and its growing influence in the Middle East as stabilizing factors for a region where the US increasingly seeks to reduce its military footprint.

According to Haley, India’s geographic position along China’s trade and energy routes could also complicate Beijing’s strategic calculations in the event of a conflict. She pointed to the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes as a reminder of India’s tense and volatile relationship with its northern neighbor, saying this makes New Delhi a natural ally in America’s long-term competition with China.

“China’s ambitions to reshape the global order will inevitably shrink as India’s power grows. That reality should guide US strategy,” Haley emphasized.

The former diplomat also warned against allowing economic disputes, such as tariff disagreements or energy trade differences, to derail bilateral ties. She advised India to seriously consider US President Donald Trump’s position on Russian oil imports but simultaneously urged Washington to avoid pushing New Delhi into a corner.

Calling for direct engagement at the highest level, Haley appealed to President Trump to open urgent talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The downward spiral must be reversed quickly. The sooner the better,” she said.