US President Donald Trump got what he wanted. Last year, Trump imposed 25% and then 50% tariffs on Indian exports, calling India a “dead economy.” India strongly opposed this and vowed not to give in. However, behind the scenes, things changed quickly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's top security advisor, Ajit Doval, visited the US soon after and met Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restart talks. Despite public claims that India would not bow down, secret talks continued through the year. India even tried to show it had options by meeting Chinese and Russian leaders. But US strategic focus suggested India’s global importance was overstated. This month, India agreed to a big trade deal. The US lowered tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. India slashed its duties on US goods to zero, a huge shift from tariffs as high as 200% on some products. India also agreed to limit Russian oil purchases to US liking, increase buying US energy, and open its agricultural market to American goods. This last point contradicts Modi's earlier promises to protect Indian farmers. The deal sparked confusion in India. The government calls it a win because India's tariffs at 18% are lower than Pakistan’s 19%. But the Indian Parliament is struggling to approve the deal. This uncertainty may upset Trump, who expects quick legislative support. The trade deal shows India bending on a deal it once loudly opposed. It highlights a gap between India’s public claims and private realities in global trade.