The changing logic of the India-U.S. partnership, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Trump administration's "flexible realism" approach is redefining U.S. foreign policy, prioritizing national interest over shared values.
• This shift impacts the India-U.S. partnership, moving its foundation from strategic convergence to strategic complementarity.
• The partnership's previous momentum was largely driven by the shared challenge posed by China's rise.
• India's future strategic relevance will increasingly depend on its own economic dynamism, technological capabilities, and defence preparedness.
• This evolution reinforces India's strategic autonomy, advocating for a multi-alignment strategy in its foreign policy.

Detailed Insights:

• Flexible realism integrates trade, technology, industrial policy, and security as instruments of statecraft, assessing partners by tangible strategic and economic value.
• The U.S. is now likely to assess even close partners through the lens of reciprocal economic benefit, technological capability, and strategic contribution.
• India can no longer assume that intensifying U.S.-China competition alone will continue to enhance its strategic relevance.
• The next phase of the India-U.S. partnership will focus on mutual strategic value, where each country contributes capabilities that reinforce the other.
• India's strategic autonomy in this evolving environment means preserving the ability to make independent choices based on its own interests.
• A multi-alignment strategy for India involves strengthening ties with the U.S., managing competition and cooperation with China on its own terms, and deepening partnerships with other global powers.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Flexible Realism: A U.S. foreign policy approach prioritizing national interest, integrating various instruments of statecraft like trade and security.
• Strategic Convergence: The alignment of interests between two or more nations, often driven by a common challenge or goal.
• Strategic Complementarity: A partnership where each country contributes distinct capabilities that reinforce the other's strengths and resilience.
• Multi-alignment: A foreign policy strategy where a nation simultaneously engages with multiple global powers and blocs to advance its own interests.