PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had a highly significant meeting on 31st August on the sidelines of the SCO summit in the Chinese port city of Tianjin. Xi said in his opening remarks that it is the right choice for both sides to be friends, and “to have the dragon and the elephant dance together,” referring to traditional symbols of the two nations. In response, PM Modi said India was “committed” to taking their countries’ relations forward “on the basis of mutual trust and respect.”

Meanwhile, against the background of India’s closer relationship with Russia and China on one hand and US-India trade tensions on the other, Trump said “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China.” However, a day later, when asked by a reporter if he was ready to reset relations with India at this point, Trump said that “India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion”. Naturally, the question being asked in many circles is whether the elephant should dance with the dragon, as Xi suggested, or wait for recent tensions in Indo-US relations to settle down and then dance with the American bison? Which one would be a more reliable partner in the longer term?

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Or, would choosing between these two powers be akin to choosing between the devil and the deep sea? The stark reality is that neither will be a long-term reliable partner. The elephant should not commit to dancing only with the dragon or the bison but should retain its freedom to choose a partner depending on the situation and its own requirements. In other words, India should continue to maintain its strategic autonomy. By navigating geopolitical volatility and diversifying its partnerships, India has positioned itself as a central player in a multipolar world. By continuing to purchase Russian oil despite US pressure, India has demonstrated that its foreign policy is guided by its own........

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