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“It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal”
Henry Alfred Kissinger
The tariff of 50% on the Indian goods is not only insulting, detrimental but goes beyond the geopolitical issues in the region for a nation like India who has always respected the sovereignty of every nation. No doubt that this surplus charge will have to be borne by the Americans due to sharp increase in the cost of American markets, but this will cause the disruption for the Indian manufacturers and traders. The impact on labor intensive MSME’s businesses for some sectors where there will be a direct impact is to be addressed. Some events do create a huge challenge they disrupt situations from inside out but along with that they generate the abundance of opportunities and chance to create a change in situations inside out. India needs a reform, complete change in the approach and opening the abundance of global opportunities available for Indian products.
Can India really trust the American alliance?
America was a leading trading partner, with China the second for India. There was an illusional optimism in Indian authorities involved in trade negotiations to crack the best deal in the world market. There is no doubt that US happens to be a big market for supply due to its dependance on global supply chain for majority consumables in US. It was not a well thought strategy by India, considering the tariff war that Trump was engaged with the global powers. India should have been on alert and somehow should have proactively tapped the other markets, at least with the sectors that would have been impacted the most. The unexpected tariff bomb somehow had disturbed the political feeling in India not only the one in power but also the opposition. The confidence of being the main strategic allay in the global southeast has taken a disastrous dent. The ever-growing closeness with the most vulnerable enemy of India has only degenerated the situation. It has once again reverberated the quote of Henry Kissinger about the US and its policies. US has a long history of decapitating nations who have not aligned with US policies for global dominance. According to many American strategy experts the plan of America was to have India as a regional proxy against China. However, India strategically avoided the situation. The formation of QUAD alliance was particularly meant for the same. India never aligned the QUAD formation as military alliance like to US lead NATO but had stance of a progressive alliance for mutual economic growth in the region. This stance of India has never aligned with US interest making India as scape goat for dominance in the region. From Biden time itself the frustrations are seen for this non alignment and in the tenure of Trump the frustration has reached to its high, purchase of Russian crude is just the superficial tantrums than the actual reality. India can never afford a regional conflict with China, as both happen to be emerging nations and any frictions will be restrictive for both nations economy.Why formation of RIC troika and strengthening of BRICS is domineering today
After the cold war ended the unipolar dominance of US is known to everybody. How single handedly US has dethrone many nations very smartly to achieve the self-interest. Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov in the late 90’s had put the idea of RIC formation. The association of Russia-India-China was coined to have counter measure to the western dominance. In a bigger picture the association has branched in the form of BRICS where other developing nations has joined hands. BRICS nations need to converge and come to have a common vision to come out of the current global situation.What can BRICS bring to have multipolar world:
- BRICS currency: The dominance of US dollar can be negated by having BRICS currency, which was a thought already proposed by Russia in 2022 summit. For some reason and indifferences have not gained the momentum and attained the completion. If the European Union can have their own currency, why the BRICS cannot. BRICS association contributes a large volume in terms of global GDP and trade. BRICS nations and the associates need to dissolve the indifferences to arrive on one page to have the BRICS own currency as counter to dollar and euro.
- Regional cooperation and expansion of BRICS: For success of any association the cooperation is very important. BRICS association is so magnitude that a methodical approach and mutual understanding is sufficient for a sustained growth. The diversified landscape and the potential of the involved nations along with the geological presence has potential for tremendous growth. The ever-increasing partnership and addition of new nations shows that the BRICS is moving in a right direction.
- Mutual respect for individual sovereignty: Sustained growth in the partnership or associations of nation is not an overnight achievement. It takes years of efforts to build the confidence and understanding. The association is of the diversified cultural and beliefs of people. The sovereignty of nations involved must be respected in terms of the practical boundaries and obeying the common values on which the association is formed. No doubt the differences of opinion are bound to happen, but a practical and sustainable solutions are must.
Has India seen a setback in the US relationship, yes, the relation has taken a nosedive? No-doubt on it. How close we need to be to US require an answer. The geopolitical decisions and the reforms and relations for India should depend on the self-respect, self-interest and sovereignty of its people and county. The reforms and strategies of India cannot be driven by an Indian diaspora sitting comfortable outside. The strategies and decisions taken for India will have long term impact on the nation and its growth.
In a nutshell US has not only backstabbed but also insulted and disrespected the long association of India. India as a nation has its own principals, its own view and on above all has a very strong autonomous foreign policy. For India it is a wake-up call and reasons to rethink, recalibrate and relook US relations. Time to be a most important and fearless player in the BRICS. No doubt that India's BRICS policies will definitely shape the BRICS strong future. Relations stand on the ideologies of mutual respect and understanding and not on force and ego. Time is the best judge as to how the geopolitical unfolding takes place.
