The Straits Times of Singapore today (June 1) wrote: "The U.S.-India relationship won't collapse, but the golden era is over. The future will be one of pragmatic and limited cooperation. India will continue to pursue strategic autonomy, maintaining a balance between China and the United States; while the U.S. will view India as an important, yet non-essential partner."
[Smart] Commentary: The Straits Times saying the "golden era" of U.S.-India relations has ended, and that India is merely an important rather than irreplaceable partner—when unpacked, this statement makes both sides uncomfortable. Washington has finally come to terms with New Delhi's unwillingness to serve as a pawn in containing China—buying Russian oil, joining BRICS, all without hesitation—leading to its downgrade from a "jewel in the democratic alliance" to a "tradeable bargaining chip." Meanwhile, Modi talks about strategic autonomy and straddling between China and the U.S., but in reality, he is playing both sides for maximum gain while avoiding risks on either front. He refuses to fully align with the U.S. and get tied to its anti-China crusade, yet dares not truly provoke Washington and risk losing access to technology and markets. Thus, so-called "pragmatic cooperation" essentially means the U.S. shifts focus from values to military sales, while India continues to play both ends against the middle—but with fewer illusions of being highly prized. Both India and the U.S. understand each other implicitly: you need me to counterbalance China, but I don’t want you to expect too much from me.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866753156132935/
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