The West's India Dilemma

When romance becomes complicated, even deadly

A month after winning his third term, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi traveled to Russia.

For some, Modi’s trip to Russia was all about China. As Russia moved closer into Beijing’s orbit, it was threatening India’s most important relationship, forcing Modi to “test the waters” as to how “Sinocized” Moscow had become. For others, Modi’s trip was business as usual, as the Indian leader strengthened a Cold War-era alliance, spending quality time with Russia’s leadership, reciprocating the annual visit to India by Putin.

Outlooks aside, there is a separate, more significant reason why Modi may have visited Putin.

Signs are appearing in New Delhi that the West’s romance with India is ending.

From Washington to Tokyo, the Western door, once wide open to India regardless of what the South Asian giant did internally or externally, is beginning to close little by little.

The choices India is making from its non-aligned posture are having a two-fold effect: they are disrupting the geopolitics of Western capitals (like keeping Iran isolated) and they are making it clear to the US-led camp that India is unwilling or unable to move in the same direction as them (like Modi reaffirming ties with Russia while the West tries to make Russia “persona non grata”).