Over years spent observing global events and decisions, it’s become apparent that a trend has played out time and again in history.
America embodies the spirit of action – swift and bold, often preceding thought. For better or worse, it is a nation of action, even if the action is miscalculated. From the Iraq invasion in 2003 to current tariff wars, the US moves first and figures it out later.
India, on the other hand, is rich in ideas but tends to get stuck in analysis and debate, resulting in delayed or no action. Grand projects like Smart Cities , Industrial Corridor, Startup India and Make in India are unveiled with fanfare and then quietly buried under bureaucratic rubble.
China, in contrast, thinks in decades. It builds slowly and strategically. Then, when it moves, it leaves the world stunned – whether it’s turning Shenzhen into a tech mecca or building an AI app called DeepSeek, that shakes Wall Street and triggers a $1 trillion drop in US tech valuations overnight.
In their differences lies a pattern, a deeper truth about how civilizations choose to engage with the world: through impulse, introspection or integration. America is known for taking The Bold Action, but never assesses At What Cost? India has tremendous potential and brainpower, but systemic inertia slows progress. China’s ability to think and act in harmony provides it a strong edge.
Troubling signs of submissiveness
In the global balance of power, strength is often measured not just by military might or economic numbers but also by the willingness to stand firm under pressure.
India showed such strength in 2008 with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s stance regarding the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement. Despite leading a fragile coalition, Singh held his ground. Under immense international pressure to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, he secured a historic NSG waiver without compromising India’s nuclear autonomy.
Singh pushed the deal through the Indian Parliament amidst fierce domestic opposition, including a no-confidence motion, and simultaneously secured a historic waiver from the NSG in 2008 – without signing the NPT or compromising India’s nuclear autonomy. The deal ended India’s post-1998 isolation and showcased strategic clarity, political courage, and firm diplomacy.
In the current period, Russia and China both have displayed boldness. When the US imposed sanctions on Russia, Moscow didn’t flinch – it adapted, recalibrated its economy and adjusted its foreign policy to endure Western pressure. China, faced with aggressive tariffs under Trump, responded decisively – retaliating both economically and diplomatically, signaling it wouldn’t be bullied into submission.
India, meanwhile, charted a softer course marked by submission. Rather than assert its sovereign interests, it appeared to appease Washington. The Modi government’s handling of Trump-era tariffs lacked both conviction and assertiveness. Even the basic level of strategic autonomy seen in 2008 now appears missing. India has shown the world that, despite its size and potential, it remains hesitant when boldness is most needed.
In contrast to Russia and China, India’s response to US pressure under Trump was marked by submission rather than strength.
From global power aspirant to client state?
After winning the US presidential election, Trump invited Xi Jinping to his inauguration but snubbed Modi – despite Modi’s repeatedly having called him a “close friend.” Modi was eventually invited, in February, but the visit was a low-key, business-first affair, typical of a working visit.
Trump, who often labeled India a “tariff king” and a “trade abuser,” continued his hardline stance. To appease him, the Modi government made several economic concessions ahead of the visit, including slashing customs duties on high-end motorcycles like Harley-Davidson from 50% to 30%, and reducing average tariffs from 13% to 11%. India also stepped back from its 2024 BRICS push for de-dollarization after Trump threatened penalties.
Despite these overtures, Trump remained focused on narrowing the US trade deficit – claiming it was $100 billion, double the actual figure of $45.7 billion. Modi, notably, did not challenge this exaggeration during their joint press conference. In return, Trump announced expanded military sales, including F-35 jets, and increased oil and gas exports to India.
Yet, the optics quickly soured. Just two days after Modi’s U.S. visit, two American military aircraft carrying 228 deported Indians – including women, children, and infants – landed in Amritsar. Images of Indians in chains circulated widely, sparking outrage and highlighting two uncomfortable truths: India’s economy is failing to generate sufficient jobs for its youth – 10 million annual new labor market entrants – and Washington offers no special treatment to its so-called allies.
Trump’s approach has been transactional and dismissive – imposing tariffs and pressing India on trade and immigration while giving little in return. The US treats India less like a strategic partner and more like a subordinate expected to comply.
India was once seen as a rising global power – rich in democracy, resources and potential to rival China. But under Modi’s decade-long leadership its global stature has declined. India’s current trajectory, coupled with its international treatment, is beginning to resemble that of nations like Ukraine and Pakistan that struggled to convert their potential into real global influence.
Is India in danger of becoming a failed state?
A critical aspect of India’s fall from grace is the erosion of its democratic foundations. Over the last decade, the Modi government shifted towards authoritarianism. The very thing that made India unique – a vibrant democracy where mistakes could be made and corrected – has been destroyed.
India never was destined to grow as fast as China, but its democratic model allowed for sustainable, steady progress. The strength of India’s democracy was in its ability to adapt, to learn from mistakes and to evolve. In the last decade, however, this foundational strength has been compromised. The government’s lack of accountability and its increasing centralization of power have stifled the growth of critical institutions.
Today the public feels disconnected as the government fails to tackle core issues like unemployment, corruption and poverty. A common sentiment is that while China was preparing for the fourth industrial revolution and the era of artificial intelligence, India was busy finding ancient temples.
India’s foreign policy, once seen as wise and balanced, now appears misguided. The country has failed to assert its influence in key global negotiations. Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, India’s decision to continue importing oil from Russia, despite Western sanctions, has sparked criticism.
This decision, while financially pragmatic in the short term, has long-term consequences. The very things that made India unique – its democratic values and its non-aligned stance – have been compromised.
India is increasingly perceived as trading principles for short-term gains, weakening the credibility of its foreign policy. Its growing dependence on Russian energy and its lack of alternative sources leave it vulnerable. President Trump’s recent warning about potential secondary tariffs on Russian oil further complicates the situation, especially given Russia’s role as a top crude supplier to India. This energy reliance opens India to external pressure, with global powers using its needs as a leverage.
The challenge is critical. Modi’s combination of strong rhetoric and weak results has pushed India to the edge. As the global order shifts, if India cannot assert itself as a strong, independent nation, it may soon find itself – like Ukraine – a pawn in a game it cannot control. The time for meaningful change is now—before the trajectory is set and irreversible.
If India dares to rise like China, it’ll become the new target of American economic abuse.
Filthy, poor, corrupt India has 1 Uni in top 300, less than 0.5% in Fortune 500, lacks public healthcare & primary education, boasts of Engineers but has falling bridges, needs Japan for HSR (a decade now). Oh, how they boast, make false promises, never admit fault.
One can disagree with many things in this article. However, the author is spot on about; US acts sans thinking (being drunk on its superpower status), China acting after thinking it through thoroughly, while as India thinks & thinks only (being paralyzed by an inertia of inaction & the colonial hangover).
This article is completely politically motivated and towing the china line. Rest is up to the readers….
Its an article that isn’t flattering of india, but india is not giving him much to work with is it. The outcomes you see with your own eyes and smell with your own nose, don’t justify anything else in relative terms, esp. your nose. If there was never a china nor a USA, and if india was to compare itself with Mozambique, it would be a winner. But thats not the world we live in. How is it towing the china line? Anything that puts india down is towing the china line? What puts india down, is on its own putting india down. Got nothing to do with China.
This is one of the best, if not the best, article I have read regarding the current situation in India. India has surely but truly fallen under Modi. Under Modi, India has become a subordinate state where its people have blindly fallen into the traps of divide and conquer established by past rulers of their land. Modi is busy creating huge temples and meaningless statues while Indian tourists visit other developing nations in Asia and lament that their neighbours in Asia have better infrastructure, are cleaner and better organised than any city in India. Thousands and thousands of Indians are leaving India each year, one would think that Modi would actually try to stop it but he’s not.
Most people in India have been blinded and misguided by Modi. I feel sorry for the forward thinking Indians who yearn for change in India but are struck down by Modi and his followers. If India had the right leader, it would build relations with China open it to investment and encourage the teaching of Indians by Chinese people (which has happened in the past). How do you think the Chinese learned to create a nation that is now marvelled across the world? The Chinese learned from the Japanese. The Japanese didn’t create hi-tech Japan from nothing, they learned from Europe and the US. Everybody has to learn from somewhere and that means swallowing your pride. It is in India’s interest to work with China for the betterment of both nations and the Asian region. Two ancient nations in Asia, so why must India kowtow to the US?
India’s colonial hangover is deep. Will it ever get over the idea that West is Best? If it can’t, India will never succeed like China has. It has to believe in its own civilization- not the fake colonial crap that it inherited.
Thats too simple a solution. The problems run too deep, too far, and wide. Its overwhelming. Remember they let criminals run for parliament. Right now, the population are captive indentured servants and consumers. No wiggling out of this unless you can immigrate. I suppose its a good thing that these immigrants are now overwhelming countries in the west, cause that makes the natives resentful of indians and its a serious brain drain for india. None of them want to come back or steal and spy for their mother country. They are gone forever.
If india is blinded and misguided by modi, that would suggest that India doesnt thinks at all. India has the leader it deserves cause they voted for him. And they will probably vote for him again, cause he makes them feel good. Do you open defecate? Hey, you are good! Carry on!
Those millions leaving india, know that india is a hole run by imbeciles. But when modi visits, they worship him. What does that say?
Given the long history of cultural cooperation and integration over the last 2 millennia, India and China should work together and prosper together without any Western interference. Just remember, Western powers were their common colonizers and oppressors.
India and china can’t work together without india taking a good hard look at itself and swallowing some major pride which I think is an understatement. They have to swallow a bucket load of sea men. and still remain humble which I don’t see democratic india is willing to do, precisely because these democratically elected politicians would never allow it. So they carry on in the poop pit that is india. China gets nothing out of this either way.
India has a need to remain semi-hostile to China to please the Americans. It traded England for America as its master, because it can’t do without a white supremacist daddy.