SL Kanthan: The decline of American hegemony and the challenges for India.
The Asian country needs to rethink its geopolitical strategy in a multipolar world.
247 - The world is witnessing the erosion of US supremacy and the rise of a multipolar geopolitical model. In an article published by SL Kanthan, the relationship between India and the United States is critically analyzed, highlighting the need for New Delhi to act cautiously so as not to become merely a pawn of American interests in the region.
Historically, the United States has demonstrated an ambiguous stance toward India. Despite enthusiastic declarations from Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump about the importance of the partnership between the two countries, the relationship is primarily based on American interests: containing China, exploiting cheap labor, and expanding the consumer market. In its global strategy, the United States does not maintain loyal allies, but rather circumstantial partners driven by geopolitical and economic conveniences.
Recent history shows that the United States does not hesitate to intervene politically when its interests are threatened. An example of this was the removal of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after his refusal to allow an American military base in the country. India should take this into account, as Washington seeks to influence all spheres of the Asian nation, disregarding its strategic autonomy, warns Kanthan.
In the past, India has suffered the consequences of its close relationship with the United States. During the Cold War, Washington imposed sanctions and sabotaged Indian interests in retaliation for its policy of non-alignment and ties with the Soviet Union. American intervention in regional conflicts, such as the independence of Bangladesh, illustrates the United States' lack of commitment to Indian security and sovereignty.
India's economic growth in recent years has been remarkable, but it still lags behind that of China, which has invested heavily in technology and industrial development. Chinese companies such as Huawei, BYD, and ByteDance dominate their respective sectors, while India remains dependent on American products and services. This dependence is also reflected in Indian foreign policy, which frequently yields to pressure from US sanctions, as in the case of the purchase of Iranian oil and the delay in the Chabahar port project.
Furthermore, Indian participation in agreements such as the QUAD and other Indo-Pacific initiatives, aimed at containing China, favors the American strategy of divide and control, argues the article's author. History teaches that India should not blindly trust promises of Western cooperation. The United States tolerates Indian advancement to a certain extent, but will not allow the country to challenge its technological and financial giants.
While India seeks to strengthen its global position, the world is moving towards a multipolar future. Organizations like BRICS represent a real alternative for cooperation among countries of the Global South, reducing dependence on the West. Furthermore, the progressive de-dollarization of the world economy weakens the hegemonic influence of the US, opening space for new economic and political paradigms.
The decline of American hegemony does not signify the rise of a new empire, but rather the redistribution of power among various nations. To position itself strategically, India must balance its alliances, invest in its own technological development, and firmly defend its sovereignty, argues Kanthan. The geopolitical future does not belong to a single country, but to the nations that know how to adapt to the new world order.
