The hugging, hobnobbing, and digital displays of friendship on social media between Mr Narendra Modi and Mr Donald Trump appear to be designed largely for public consumption, without delivering any substantial achievements for Indians or the Indian economy. The much-talked-about, yet effectively non-existent, free trade deal between the US and India reflects the unfair and unequal trade relations between the two countries.
Mr Trump reportedly promised to reduce US tariffs on Indian exports to 18 percent in return for India’s commitment to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers on US goods and services to zero. Such an arrangement is likely to undermine India’s productive capacities across multiple sectors and drain Indian wealth and human resources in favour of the American economy. US ruling elites and their corporations appear to view India merely as a market, with no genuine friendship or commitment to stand together during times of crisis or need.
History shows that American ruling elites and their imperialist system have never truly stood with anyone. When it comes to India’s national interests, US power elites have consistently acted against India, seeking to undermine those interests by exploiting crises, accelerating instability, and promoting military conflicts. They have attempted to checkmate India’s industrial and technological progress while simultaneously using India’s technologically advanced and skilled workforce to establish, shape, and expand Silicon Valley, thereby advancing their own technological dominance.
During periods of economic and military crisis, the United States has sought to contain India’s growth and weaken Indian sovereignty. The US has never been a genuine friend of India; instead, it has repeatedly used its imperial power to restrain India’s rise. American power elites are no one’s friend. Therefore, India must remain clear-eyed and realistic while developing any relationship with the US. Expecting significant gains from an Indo–US alliance is a strategic illusion.
The US is attempting to bully, pressure, and entrap India into joining US-led alliances such as the QUAD—often described as an Asian NATO—as a junior partner, not only to contain China but also to limit India itself. American imperialism seeks to control Asia and its resources to maintain dominance over the global economy, often at the expense of Asian peoples and their sovereignty.
By falling into this trap, the Modi government is undermining India’s independent foreign policy while creating conditions that could weaken the Indian economy and pave the way for American dominance over Asia. Racial capitalism driven by American economic power is fundamentally exploitative and hostile towards the peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and even parts of Europe.
The Indian government and the Indian people must remain vigilant against American attempts in the form of trade deals and military alliances. The US has never stood with Indian or Asian peoples and their interests. One only needs to examine how American imperialism and its European allies have devastated Ukraine and then effectively abandoned it in the midst of a prolonged military and humanitarian crisis, where Russians and Ukrainians suffer directly and people across Europe pay the price daily.
Similarly, American imperialism has destabilised Pakistan by using its military as a proxy to contain India, while simultaneously undermining the Pakistani people. The US continues to manufacture conflicts and remains involved in numerous wars and interventions across the world to sustain its imperialist system and preserve the dominance of American capitalism, which is increasingly weakened by its own internal contradictions.
India and its current ruling regime must learn from history and understand the dangers of forming any alliance with US imperialism and its capitalist system. This system is fundamentally designed to dominate, destroy, and create conditions of destitution for people and the planet. There should be no illusions about this reality. India must revive and follow its time-tested non-aligned foreign policy traditions to uphold its independence, while promoting internationalism based on solidarity with peoples and nations suffering under imperialist domination and exploitation.
The Modi government’s myopic engagement with American imperialism is a strategic illusion. It will neither protect nor promote India’s economic, military, or global diplomatic interests. On the contrary, it is likely to prove disastrous for India and its people. American imperialism has often aligned itself with autocratic, reactionary, and undemocratic regimes while undermining liberal and secular democracies. The state-led, corporate-driven model of planned American capitalism and its market-centred democracy are incompatible with India’s aspirations for inclusive and democratic development.
Therefore, it is essential to oppose unfair trade agreements and imperialist military alliances between India and the United States in the interest of India and Indians. India must not forget to celebrate its historic struggles against imperialism and its longstanding tradition of international solidarity with anti-imperialist movements across the world.
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*Academic based in the UK
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