India’s foreign policy trajectory since the tariff wars has tilted toward greater engagement with Russia and China, seeking to balance Western influence and hedge against economic vulnerabilities. New Delhi believed that drawing closer to Moscow and Beijing would create a stable triangle of cooperation. However, ground realities reveal otherwise.
China, despite regular high-level talks with India, continues to anchor its strategic partnership with Pakistan and deepen its bond with Russia. The recent announcement of Xi Jinping’s visit to Tibet, marking 60 years of Beijing’s rule, highlights this reality. For India, Tibet is not merely a neighbor but a historical and geopolitical fault line. China’s overt signaling from Tibet serves as a reminder that Beijing’s ambitions do not consider Indian sensitivities.
Russia, while maintaining cordial ties with India, is increasingly bound by its strategic and economic dependence on China. For Moscow, India is important but not pivotal. The Ukraine war has further tilted Russia toward Beijing, creating a dynamic where Indian overtures risk being overshadowed.
If India distances itself too much from the West, the risks are profound. Without Western partnerships in technology, defense, and finance, India may find itself trapped in a geopolitical cul-de-sac similar to Iran: isolated, over-reliant on adversarial neighbors, and unable to harness its economic and demographic potential.
In essence, India’s gamble of aligning closer with Russia and China while drifting from the West is proving fruitless. China does not want a strong India on its border, and Russia’s priorities lie elsewhere. For New Delhi, the lesson is clear: balancing relations is necessary, but abandoning strategic partnerships with the West in favor of legacy adversaries could undermine its long-term future.
