“Strategic maturity without trumpets: How India held its nerve and rebalanced smartly”, First Post, February 05, 2026
“The recent India-US economic understanding has arrived at a moment when nerves were beginning to fray — quietly, not publicly. Growth remained resilient, markets fundamentally sound, yet the global environment was turning inhospitable. Geopolitically, India appeared to be facing pressure from multiple directions at once: an unsettled Europe, a grinding war in Ukraine, turbulence in West Asia, sharpening US-China competition, and a transactional turn in global diplomacy where leverage often preceded trust. India was perhaps perceiving a downslide in its strategic significance. In such circumstances, many countries panic, posture, or overreact. Fortunately, we did none of these. What India demonstrated instead was strategic maturity — calm and patient, while remaining largely understated.
The most striking aspect of India’s recent conduct has been its refusal to be hurried. There was no rush to issue dramatic statements, no public bargaining through the media, and no visible anxiety when economic sentiment briefly appeared to soften. Indian leadership seemed to recognise that the moment demanded equilibrium rather than exuberance. In an era where diplomacy increasingly resembles theatre, India chose to stay off stage and work behind the curtains. It appears to have paid off, although it may yet be too early to surmise that.
For a period, geopolitically, India did appear to be under pressure. Relations with Washington had lost some momentum, economic uncertainty crept into commentary, and there were visible attempts by others to frame India as having limited choices — particularly on energy, trade, and strategic alignment. Yet India resisted the temptation to react defensively. Instead, it focused on preserving what had been painstakingly gained since the end of the Cold War: strategic autonomy, diversified partnerships, economic credibility, and diplomatic respect across regions. These gains were not surrendered to chase short-term reassurance…..”
Read full article at firstpost.com
