PAKISTAN-UNITED STATES RELATIONS UNDER TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

The paper places the examination inside the context of dependency theory and critically evaluates the development of Pakistan-United States relations under Trump's administration. It explores the intricate interactions between political, military, and economic factors that influenced the two countries' bilateral relations, paying special attention to the limitations of assistance and the transactional character of diplomacy. The paper illustrates how coercive tactics, the suspension of security aid, and reliance on Pakistan's engagement in the Afghan peace process altered the relationship by placing the change from the previous Obama era in context and following Trump's "America First" doctrine. Additionally, the paper examines how Trump's policies have affected Pakistan's regional strategy, nuclear discourse, civil-military dynamics, and domestic political climate, especially with regard to India. A more detailed understanding of the dependency model in practice is made possible by the empirical insights derived from secondary sources, policy statements, and historical records. The results show that although the United States was able to gain tactical cooperation by taking advantage of Pakistan's reliance on military and economic assistance, the lack of sustained confidence undermined strategic alignment and drove Islamabad towards other allies like China. The analysis comes to the conclusion that under Trump, U.S.-Pakistan ties were mostly transactional, influenced more by immediate security concerns than by shared principles. With significant ramifications for upcoming U.S. administrations and Pakistan's changing diplomatic posture, this dynamic highlights the limitations of coercive reliance as a viable foreign policy strategy.

Keywords: Pak-US Relations, Trump Administration, America First, Dependency Theory, Aid.