Washington Sees Threat in India's Strategic Autonomy

The US has suddenly woken up to the fact that India is unwilling to bend and grovel before it as most other nations.

- HARSHA KAKAR

The Americans also believe that India's growing power will ultimately be a threat and the way India tilts in its alliances can alter global power balances. Hence, they have begun taking steps to keep India under check by controlling its rise.

This approach is the opposite of earlier US governments which let India maintain its strategic autonomy while ensuring it remains an ally, which was far more logical.

For previous US administrations, India was a Major Defence Partner and was granted Strategic Trade Authorization-1 status, benefitting defence procurements and enhancing interoperability. The belief was that collaboration in defence and trade would ensure Indo-US ties are close and New Delhi remains a partner in managing global challenges, especially a growing China, which was a threat to both. The US also banked on India to contain Chinese influence in South and East Asia as also within the Global South, as both are competitors.

The Trump administration appears to have adopted an anti-India stand. They believe India can be the key in containing Russia which has embarrassed the US in Ukraine. This became evident when President Trump announced additional sanctions of 25 per cent on India for procuring Russian oil, coinciding with the visit of Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, to Moscow. The intent was to send a message to President Vladimir Putin that in case he does not accept Trump's call for a ceasefire, its ally India would be impacted.