Did Trump’s Tariffs Push India and China Closer? Uganda Denies U.S. Deportee Deal

Trump’s Tariffs and India-China Relations

U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on India, escalating to 50% due to its continued purchase of Russian oil, has strained U.S.-India relations and inadvertently fostered a thaw in India-China ties. The tariffs, announced in August 2025, were intended to pressure India over its trade with Russia and force a trade deal, but they have instead prompted New Delhi to recalibrate its foreign policy. Analysts suggest that the tariffs have accelerated India’s efforts to mend ties with China, a process that began in October 2024 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping at a BRICS summit in Russia. Since then, high-level engagements, including visits by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Beijing, have signaled a warming of relations. India and China are now discussing resuming direct flights, easing visa restrictions, and reopening trade posts along their border. Experts note that while India’s outreach to China predates the tariffs, Trump’s actions have added momentum, pushing India to diversify its strategic partnerships amid strained U.S. ties. However, unresolved border disputes and strategic rivalry with China mean this détente remains cautious and pragmatic.

A senior Ugandan official has refuted reports that the country agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States, stating that Uganda lacks the facilities to accommodate such individuals. On August 20, 2025, CBS News, citing internal U.S. government documents, reported that the Trump administration had secured deals with Uganda and Honduras to accept non-citizen deportees as part of its aggressive immigration crackdown. The Ugandan minister, speaking to Anadolu, denied any such agreement, saying, “To the best of my knowledge, we have not reached such an agreement,” and emphasized the country’s limited capacity. The U.S. policy leverages a provision allowing asylum seekers to be sent to third countries deemed capable of fairly processing their claims. At least three African nations—South Sudan, Rwanda, and Eswatini—have reportedly agreed to accept U.S. deportees, with 13 individuals described as “dangerous criminals” sent to these countries last month. Human rights activists have condemned the policy, warning that deportees face risks of harm in unfamiliar nations. Protests against mass deportations have also emerged, with demonstrations at Fort Bliss, Texas, where a new ICE detention facility is under construction.

This dual development underscores the broader geopolitical and humanitarian ramifications of Trump’s policies, from reshaping global alliances to sparking debates over immigration and human rights.