Dealing with Trump: India's Strategic Playbook for Unpredictable Diplomacy

• US President Donald Trump's unpredictable style has baffled global leaders, creating an agenda-setting advantage.
• Many misinterpret Trump's statements, taking them literally or dismissing them as erratic, which benefits his strategic goals.
• Trump's communication is a negotiating tactic, using extreme positions to anchor discussions and make subsequent compromises appear reasonable.
• India must recalibrate its diplomatic approach, moving beyond conventional methods to understand Trump's transactional foreign policy.
• Avoid emotional responses, literal interpretations, overreaction, or complacency; focus on hard-nosed negotiations based on national interest.

Why It Matters: India needs a sophisticated, non-emotional strategy to navigate Trump's unpredictable, interest-driven diplomacy effectively.