India's Bipolar Choices

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India navigates strategic choices between U.S. and China in a new global bipolarity, distinct from the Cold War.

India finds itself at a pivotal moment, as the world seems to be evolving into a new bipolar order dominated by the U.S. and China. Though tensions between the U.S. and China exist, their interdependence differs from the Cold War rivalry between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Economically intertwined, both powers continue diplomatic and economic engagements that didn’t exist before. As the Indo-Pacific emerges as a significant geopolitical theatre, India is caught between strengthening ties with the U.S., especially through alliances like the Quad, and managing its relationship with China, with whom it shares significant economic interactions and territorial disputes.

India cannot afford to become a mere pawn in this contest, and must focus on balancing its engagements—pursuing economic cooperation with China while aligning with the U.S. to counter potential aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, new global alliances, such as AUKUS and the Quad, reflect a shift in power from the Atlantic to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, redefining global alliances and strategies. Amid these dynamics, India must assert its sovereignty and prioritize its national interests. ​