An M&M (morbidity and mortality) takeaway of Trump tariffs and penalty levy offers multiple explanations, including one in which India failed to read the room, and overestimated the 'India as counterbalance to China' factor. Even as Narendra Modi gets ready to attend the SCO summit end of this month, and India invites Vladimir Putin to Delhi, GoI needs to take a long hard look at its global engagement and refashion itself as a bridging power.
With Trump tariff threats failing to move China and Russia, his attention shifted to security-dependent Europe, and globally ambitious India - two logical sites to score wins. The tariff/penalty for doing business with Russia has upended a nearly three-decade bipartisan consensus on India-US. There will be repercussions for Washington.
Strategic autonomy is critical to India's global engagement. It should push India to be more than a liminal power taking pride in tightrope walking. Tightrope walkers are always a misstep away from a fall, and multipolarity in these fragmented times is code for spheres of influence. Its growing economy and defence capabilities still does not make India a conventional power. It must think out of the box in staking its global claim - being a bridging power. Delhi must harness its unique ability to relate and engage across the spectrum, from the least developed and most vulnerable economies to the wealthiest. It must seize every opportunity, going beyond 'conventional conversations' like terrorism, building reputation as a bridge-builder in unconventional spaces like health, climate change and environment. In these contentious times, India's ability to deliver on the true promise of multilateralism and prosperity will give it the leverage it currently falls short on.
With Trump tariff threats failing to move China and Russia, his attention shifted to security-dependent Europe, and globally ambitious India - two logical sites to score wins. The tariff/penalty for doing business with Russia has upended a nearly three-decade bipartisan consensus on India-US. There will be repercussions for Washington.
Strategic autonomy is critical to India's global engagement. It should push India to be more than a liminal power taking pride in tightrope walking. Tightrope walkers are always a misstep away from a fall, and multipolarity in these fragmented times is code for spheres of influence. Its growing economy and defence capabilities still does not make India a conventional power. It must think out of the box in staking its global claim - being a bridging power. Delhi must harness its unique ability to relate and engage across the spectrum, from the least developed and most vulnerable economies to the wealthiest. It must seize every opportunity, going beyond 'conventional conversations' like terrorism, building reputation as a bridge-builder in unconventional spaces like health, climate change and environment. In these contentious times, India's ability to deliver on the true promise of multilateralism and prosperity will give it the leverage it currently falls short on.
