Under the leadership of PM Modi, India’s moral strength is highly reputed, which has influenced nations positively, and following this moral strength, India exercises its strategic autonomy, said Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International, while moderating the roundtable in New Delhi that brought together over twenty-five experts from different parts of the world.
The discussion focused on the US’s National Security Strategy 2025 and the emerging world order. Experts emphasised that India must develop a deeper understanding of how the United States formulates its foreign policy. Participants noted that American foreign policy is shaped through a complex institutional process involving the executive branch, the U.S. Congress, and multiple policy institutions. Speakers such as Carla Sands, former American diplomat; Ashok Sajjanhar, former Indian diplomat; Ashok Sajjanhar, former Indian diplomat; and Harinder Sekhon, Distinguished Fellow at CUTS, highlighted that the India–U.S. relationship has evolved significantly over the past two decades and is increasingly recognised as a strategic partnership. However, participants cautioned that a strategic partnership should not be interpreted as a strategic surrender.
Another key theme was the need for India to prioritise economic growth and wealth creation. Bjorn Lomborg, President, Copenhagen Consensus Centre, Denmark, argued that India should focus on becoming a wealthy and economically powerful nation, as economic strength ultimately translates into strategic influence.
The discussion also addressed the complexities of India’s relationship with China. Lt Gen Arvinder Lamba, former Vice Chief of India Armed Forces and Gaurav Dalmia, Chairman, Dalmia Group Holdings, noted that while India and China are often seen as geopolitical rivals, significant economic interaction continues between them. China remains dominant in global manufacturing and possesses strong capabilities in technological innovation and critical mineral supply chains, keeping it deeply integrated integrated into the global economy.
Kwame Owino, CEO, Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya, emphasised the importance of multilateralism in maintaining the legitimacy of the global economic system, noting that the legitimacy of globalisation can only be sustained through multilateral cooperation.
Experts also observed that major powers such as the United States have historically sought influence over specific regions. While such strategies may help maintain geopolitical influence, they can also create instability and dependent states, potentially undermining multilateral cooperation.
At the same time, experts noted that under a more transactional foreign policy approach, the US has increasingly treated India as a transactional partner rather than purely strategic. This has encouraged India to diversify trade relationships and pursue free trade agreements with countries such as New Zealand, Oman, and the EU.
On Quad and AUKUS, experts such as Carrice Witte, Founder of the SIGNAL group of Israel song others acknowledged that both India and the United States consider the Quad an important framework for cooperation, particularly for ensuring security in the Indian Ocean Region and maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific. However, some speakers observed that the momentum of the Quad has fluctuated and requires sustained engagement.
Experts also agreed that the growing use of tariffs as instruments of economic pressure risks undermining the spirit of strategic partnership and could be detrimental in an increasingly multipolar world.In conclusion, participants emphasised that India must prioritise wealth creation and sustained economic growth to enhance its global influence and strategic capabilities. At the same time, India’s moral strength, democratic values, and principled foreign policy remain key assets that can help shape international norms in the evolving global order.
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