When Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods earlier in August, it reignited speculation about the durability of New Delhi’s ‘strategic autonomy’ discourse. For some, it was a sign of turning tides in New Delhi-Washington relations; for others, it opened the door to the possibility of a “reset” with China – all the more so as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited New Delhi earlier this month. The argument runs that if one great power relationship sours, another must sweeten.

It is a captivatingly simple proposition, but one that overlooks the structural realities shaping New Delhi’s choices. Foreign relations are by design, a balancing act between principles and pragmatism. Tactical moves such as tariff responses, summit-level engagements or diplomatic signalling can be reactive. But strategy in itself demands consistency, clarity, and a long-term vision. India’s conduct has long reflected this duality: defending sovereignty, maintaining strategic autonomy and cultivating multiple partnerships without being drawn into binding alignments.

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The proposition of swinging from one power to another ignores this tradition, as well as the reality that China is not simply a counterweight to Washington, but a structural challenger to India’s ascent, one whose influence New Delhi has to manage, not embrace. Such a........

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