In an era of geopolitical flux, the Russia-India-China (RIC) axis is emerging as a potential counterweight to Western dominance, with India positioned as its pivot. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s foreign policy has embraced calibrated multipolarity—a strategic approach that balances engagement with multiple global powers without committing to any single bloc.

The recent imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump has accelerated India’s recalibration, prompting a renewed engagement with China while reinforcing its longstanding partnership with Russia. The Modi-Xi Jinping meeting on August 31, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin marked a critical juncture in this shift, signalling a cautious thaw in India-China relations. However, India will proceed with guarded optimism, mindful of the historic trust deficit with China, while leveraging its principled flexibility to foster global economic stability through the cumulative economic might of India and China.

India’s foreign policy under PM Modi is rooted in strategic autonomy. Rather than aligning exclusively with one superpower, India engages with multiple poles—Western powers like the US, Japan, and Australia through the Quad; Russia through decades-old defence and energy ties; and China through forums like the SCO and BRICS. This calibrated multipolarity has allowed India to hedge against geopolitical uncertainties while maximising economic and strategic opportunities.

The US tariffs, imposed as a punitive measure for India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil, have strained the Indo-American strategic partnership. Trump’s decision to double tariffs to 50 per cent on Indian exports, effective August 27, 2025, citing India’s role in funding Russia’s war efforts, was described by Indian officials as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable".

This economic coercion, coupled with Trump’s........

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