India’s Balancing Act in an Evolving World Order
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be traveling to China this weekend after a seven-year gap, representing a turning point in India’s foreign policy. His visit to Tianjin for the SCO summit puts him alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as tensions with Washington reach a breaking point.
Just days ago, America doubled the tariffs on Indian imports to 50%, hitting products valued at $60.2 billion every year. The action, associated with India’s sustained purchase of Russian crude, has shaken India’s largest trade tie. Experts opine that the move has broken years of building confidence between Washington and Delhi.
Strained US Ties, Warming with Rivals
India has been compelled to diversify trade connections at pace by the tariff shock. As Delhi maintains its Russian oil imports are within the law and for the sake of energy stability, Washington holds they are financing Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Not only has it ignited resentment in India domestically, but it has also provided Beijing and Moscow with a not-so-rare diplomatic opportunity.
“Modi will be in China when India-US ties have gone sour and India-China relations are settling down. The timing is potent,” South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman observed. For Xi, the symbolism of hosting Modi in Tianjin matters, while Putin will likely use the moment to affirm Russia’s long-term relationship with India.
Beneath their troubled past, including the fatal 2020 border skirmish, India and China have tentatively resumed communication. Experts think Modi and Xi can use the SCO summit to discuss trade and investment options, seeking to create a more stable relationship without anticipating significant breakthroughs.
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Deepening Partnerships Beyond Washington
India has moved rapidly to indicate that it will not be dependent only on the US. On Thursday, the government kicked off an export drive to 40 nations, ranging from the UK to South Korea, to counter the tariff blow.
Modi’s recent stop in Tokyo further underlined this strategy. Japan has pledged massive investment, with commitments worth up to ¥10 trillion ($68 billion) over the next decade. Suzuki alone plans to channel $8 billion into India’s automotive sector. The two leaders also discussed rare earths cooperation, vital for high-tech industries.
For Modi, posing with Xi and Putin in China while strengthening ties with Japan is a strong message: India is re-balancing its diplomacy and trade to ride out geopolitical jolts. As one retired diplomat said, the photo-op itself “will be a pointed reminder to Washington that India has options.”
