India’s foreign policy is facing one of its toughest tests.
In his book The India Way, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar wrote that India must engage America, manage China, reassure Russia, and build ties with Europe, Japan, and its neighbours. For years, India has tried to balance relations with different powers — close to Washington for technology and trade, friendly with Moscow for energy and defence, and cautious with Beijing. But this balance is now under pressure.
Donald Trump’s America has turned more critical. He has accused India of helping Russia by buying cheap oil and has raised tariffs on Indian goods. At the same time, Prime Minister Modi is preparing to meet China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing, hoping for a cautious thaw after the 2020 border clashes. China, too, has softened its tone, calling the US a “bully” and urging India to see it as a partner.
India’s challenge is clear: it is part of the US-led Quad with Japan and Australia, but also a member of the China- and Russia-led SCO. It works with the US in the I2U2 group, while also depending on Russian oil. Experts say this is deliberate. India prefers “strategic autonomy” — not joining one camp fully but keeping ties with all sides.
But India’s power has limits. Its economy is big but much smaller than China’s or America’s, and it still imports most of its advanced weapons. This gap shapes its diplomacy. That is why India continues to buy oil from Russia despite US pressure, while also keeping channels open with Beijing.
Some argue India should align closely with the US to counter China. Others say flexibility and ambiguity are India’s strength — it should not tie itself to any one power.
For now, analysts believe India will endure the short-term pain of Trump’s criticism and tariffs. The US-India relationship, they say, is too important to collapse. India’s best option is patience — to weather the storm, keep its autonomy, and wait for better times.
-Peace News Desk