Top Books on India-US Relations: Trump, Modi & Geopolitics

1. The India Way : Strategies for an Uncertain World by S. Jaishankar

Dr. S. Jaishankar isn’t just writing from the sidelines. He’s India’s current foreign minister. Think of him as the guy who actually sits across the table from Washington power brokers.

Jaishankar talks about how India plays the long game: keeping independence (“strategic autonomy”) while still cozying up to the U.S. when interests align. He’s candid about trade spats, defense deals, and how India navigates an unpredictable world that includes a rising China and a sometimes-mercurial White House.

Reading this feels like eavesdropping on a high-level strategy session, except it’s written in clear, direct prose. If you want to know how Modi’s government really thinks about America, this is the place to start.

2. Fateful Triangle: How China Shaped U.S.-India Relations During the Cold War by Tanvi Madan

Picture a classic love triangle. Only the third character here is China. Tanvi Madan, a Brookings Institution scholar and one of the most famous voices on U.S.–India ties, shows how Beijing has quietly steered Washington and New Delhi toward each other for decades.

She digs through archives and cables to reveal moments when China’s moves, whether border flare-ups or global tech ambitions, pushed India and the U.S. closer. You’ll walk away understanding why every Trump tweet about trade, every Biden Indo-Pacific summit, and every Modi foreign visit seems to have “China” written in invisible ink.

3. Modi and the Reinvention of Indian Foreign Policy by Ian Hall

Narendra Modi didn’t just inherit India’s foreign policy playbook—he rewrote it with a bolder, more personal style. Ian Hall, an Australian scholar who knows Indian politics inside out, captures how Modi mixes hard-nosed strategy with a showman’s touch.

Hall unpacks everything from Modi’s Silicon Valley hugs to his diaspora diplomacy. He shows why Modi’s U.S. outreach feels different from his predecessors: less bureaucratic, more made-for-TV, and yes, a bit Trump-like in its flair. If you’ve ever wondered how the “Howdy, Modi!” spectacle came to be, this is your backstage pass.

4. India and the United States in the 21st Century: Reinventing Partnership by Teresita C. Schaffer

Before you dive into the Trump years or the Modi magic, you need the backstory. Veteran diplomats Lalit Mansingh (India) and Teresita Schaffer (U.S.) give you a front-row seat to the entire saga, from Nehru’s cautious non-alignment and the Cold War’s icy decades to the nuclear deal breakthroughs and today’s tech-driven partnership.

It reads like a long conversation with two wise friends who’ve “seen it all.” They trade perspectives, point out where the two countries fumbled, and celebrate the quiet successes that never make the news. Think of it as the perfect starter kit for understanding how we got to the Biden-Modi era.

5. The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game by Ronald Kessler 

The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game pulls you straight into the West Wing during Donald Trump’s first year, where every headline felt like a plot twist. Veteran journalist Ronald Kessler delivers exclusive interviews including a rare sit-down with Trump himself and insider stories of power plays, midnight tweets, and bold foreign-policy moves. From Ivanka and Jared’s quiet influence to the tariff battles and high-stakes diplomacy that rattled allies and rivals alike, Kessler shows how a president determined to upend tradition rewired Washington on his own terms. Fast, vivid, and brimming with behind-the-scenes detail, this is the definitive account of a presidency that didn’t just break the rules but rewrote them.

6. America and the Indo-Pacific: Trump and Beyond by Harsh V Pant and Kashish Parpiani

America and the Indo-Pacific: Trump and Beyond is a compelling, razor-sharp exploration of how the United States has navigated the complex geopolitics of Asia in recent years. Written by seasoned strategic analyst Harsh V. Pant and co-author Kashish Parpiani, the book examines the disruptive influence of the Trump administration’s “America First” policy, its confrontations with China, and the reorientation of alliances across the Indo-Pacific. But it doesn’t stop there: the authors trace how these policies evolved under President Biden, highlighting continuity, recalibration, and the enduring challenges of balancing power in a region vital to global trade and security. Rich with insider analysis, real-world examples, and nuanced perspectives, this book is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand how U.S. strategy shapes and is shaped by the rapidly changing dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.

Why These Books Matter Now

Both nations head into election seasons that could reset or recharge the partnership. Climate action, AI regulation, defense tech, and global supply chains are front-page issues. Reading these authors means you won’t just scroll headlines; you’ll understand the stakes.

And let’s be honest: few relationships are as fascinating as this one. Two noisy democracies, each with billion-plus citizens, trying to find common ground while juggling domestic politics, economic ambition, and a rising China? That’s world history in real time.