India Must Keep U.S. and China Equidistant, Embrace Israel and Russia

The reality is, both the U.S. and China will pursue their interests with or without India. And therefore, our foreign policy must be self-driven.

- SAVIO RODRIGUES

In the chessboard of global geopolitics, India stands as the knight—sometimes unpredictable, often misunderstood, but vital to the balance of power. We are not a pawn in someone else's game, and it is time we stop behaving like one. As the world polarizes around two superpowers—the United States and China—India must play the role of the equidistant force, not favoring either but asserting its own strategic autonomy. At the same time, we must deepen ties with our real friends—Israel and Russia—nations that have stood by us not merely in words but in war, crisis, and technological transformation.

Let's be clear—India does not owe allegiance to either Washington or Beijing. The United States is a powerful democracy, and India's bilateral trade with the U.S. crossed $128.8 billion in FY2023, making it our largest trading partner. From defense to technology, cooperation has grown. The U.S. has backed India's stance on terrorism, especially in forums like the UN Security Council, and has been an advocate for India's permanent seat there.

But let's not forget history—or reality. The U.S. is transactional. Its foreign policy is governed not by loyalty but by leverage. Washington sells dreams of liberty but has a track record of regime changes, double standards, and opportunistic alliances. From arming Pakistan for decades to turning a blind eye to India's core concerns at the WTO, the U.S. plays to its own interests first.

Now look east. China, the dragon, is not just a competitor; it is an adversary. The Galwan Valley clashes of June 2020, where 20 Indian soldiers were martyred, reminded us of Beijing's real face. It is not just about disputed borders; it's about the ethos of expansionism. China wants to dominate Asia, and India stands in its way. The $117.6 billion bilateral trade in 2023, with a record $85 billion trade deficit, only tells one side of the story. Economically, we are feeding the same beast that threatens our sovereignty.