“Yes, India is the natural ally”
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The U.S. faces a strategic choice between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals with competing geopolitical importance. India has emerged as a major democratic counterweight to China and a key economic partner, while Pakistan offers counterterrorism cooperation and regional influence but faces governance challenges. This debate intensified under the Trump administration's 2025-2026 pivot toward Pakistan, creating tension with India despite decades of deepening U.S.-India ties.