India, March 18 -- US President Donald Trump's war against Iran seems confounding, defined by contradictory remarks, an improvisational strategy, and a tolerance for risk that would paralyse a traditional commander-in-chief. But as my friend Jeffrey Sonnenfeld argues in his new book, Trump's Ten Commandments, we should not be surprised. Trump's approach reflects the consistent execution of a playbook he has relied on for decades.

Sonnenfeld's most important advice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to internalise this playbook, because the same patterns driving the recent US strikes on Kharg Island will shape the next phase of Indo-US trade and relations.

The insight, shaped by decades of observing Trump across business, media, and poli...