COVER STORY
India–US ties face their toughest test yet as Trump’s tariffs strain decades of progress in bilateral relations.
Outlook Magazine - Where Do We Go Now? - 21 September 2025 Issue
While the US still remains the world's only Superpower, the breakdown of the liberal system that was carefully built after the end of World War two is crumbling. It happened much before Trump took office as Capitalism was in crisis. Geo politics is in a flux and so far, despite calls for a multi-polar world, that has not materialised. But now have Trump's tariffs changed the geo political axis? PM's China visit and the SCO summit seem to be new avenues. But then is it really a beginning, given our history . Can China and Russia and India provide an alternative to US dominance.? Does India even want to be part of that alliance, considering India-China tensions. For now it suits both China and India to be on the same side for trade and economic cooperation. Beyond that optics if India and China ties will last is uncertain. But there is a shift in geo- politics and geo economics world-wide. Read this and more in the latest issue of Outlook.
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There is a pressing need to map the gaps between branding claims and effective achievements on the foreign policy front, based on the parameters set by the Modi government itself.
India’s interests lie in a closer strategic partnership with the US, just as any American administration cannot ignore the world’s most populous country that is in a critical geography and has economic and military potential.
India, China and Russia as well as most of the developing countries are committed to a multipolar world where policies are not decided by just one or two countries, but there are several power poles
Keeping relations on an even keel with China is important for India’s economic growth, but joining a world order led by it would be suicidal
Even as Beijing continues to challenge conventional notions of democracy and human rights, America will have to decide what it stands for and what it wants from the world
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Tariff turbulence and India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy
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There is a pressing need to map the gaps between branding claims and effective achievements on the foreign policy front, based on the parameters set by the Modi government itself.
-
India’s interests lie in a closer strategic partnership with the US, just as any American administration cannot ignore the world’s most populous country that is in a critical geography and has economic and military potential.
-
India, China and Russia as well as most of the developing countries are committed to a multipolar world where policies are not decided by just one or two countries, but there are several power poles
-
Keeping relations on an even keel with China is important for India’s economic growth, but joining a world order led by it would be suicidal
-
Even as Beijing continues to challenge conventional notions of democracy and human rights, America will have to decide what it stands for and what it wants from the world