New Delhi, Aug. 7 -- In September 2019, US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood side-by-side in front of a roaring crowd of over 50,000 in Houston, Texas. The "Howdy Modi" event was billed as a celebration of US-India friendship, and the two leaders did not disappoint.

"I'm so thrilled to be here in Texas with one of America's greatest, most devoted and most loyal friends," Trump declared. Modi returned the warmth, calling Trump a "true friend in the White House".

Fast-forward to August 2025 - that bonhomie has collapsed. A full-blown trade war is now underway, with India facing a staggering 50% tariff on its exports to the US. What happened in between tells a story of shifting priorities, escalating trad...