Episode 40: Dhruva Jaishankar on The Future of US-India Ties

In this episode of Memos to the President, Ylli sits down with Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of ORF America, to take a deep dive into the complex and evolving role of India on the world stage.Recorded in late January 2026, the conversation explores how India is navigating its relationship with a "pure competitor" in China and a shifting partnership with the United States. Jaishankar provides an expert assessment of why India's generation of strategic thinkers is more "bullish" than ever, despite significant trade frictions and high tariffs currently impacting bilateral ties.00:00 – Intro: 20 Years of Perspective on D.C. and Delhi 01:25 – India’s Role in a Changing World Order 01:53 – The Superpower at the Doorstep: Managing China 03:00 – A New Generation of Strategic Thinkers 05:25 – Navigating a World Beyond the U.S. and China 06:08 – Looking Toward 2050: Challenges and Optimism 07:53 – The Paradox of U.S.-India Relations: Friction vs. Cooperation 08:14 – The Tariff Trouble: 50% Levies and Trade Sticking Points 08:51 – Defense as the New Cornerstone of the Partnership 09:13 – People-to-People Ties: The Largest Indian Diaspora 12:24 – The Path to a Comprehensive Bilateral Trade Deal 13:34 – The Russia Oil Factor and Global Energy Markets 14:37 – India’s AI Strategy: Data, Talent, and Use Cases 16:30 – Building Models vs. Building Applications: The R&D Debate 18:47 – Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the AI Age 19:39 – Recommendations for the U.S.-India Tech Relationship 21:43 – Previewing the AI Impact Summit in Delhi 23:43 – Leading the Global South: Reforming International Institutions 26:40 – Why U.S. and India Should Collaborate in Third Markets 28:52 – The India-Pakistan "Deep Freeze" and Terrorism Policy 32:52 – The Diminishing Strategic Value of the Iran Relationship 34:22 – Russia-India Dynamics: Diversifying Defense and Space 36:52 – The Concerns Over the Russia-China "No Limits" Friendship 41:00 – De-risking from China: The Battle for Data and Tech Sovereignty 43:15 – Outro: The Future of ORF America Cooperation Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.