Posted on by Sandeep

Property Dealer in Oval office

The Token Money Diplomacy

A Property Dealer’s Guide to International Relations:

In Mumbai’s bustling property markets, Tappu bhai has perfected the art of customer management. It starts innocently enough. 

“Sir, just give ₹5,000 token money,” he says, leaning back in his luxury revolving chair in his plush office. “Fully refundable registration fee to be adjusted in my brokerage! This shows you’re serious, and I’ll find you the perfect property.”

The customer pays. Within a week: “Sir, that property got sold to someone else. But I have something even better! Just ₹2,500 more for documentation fees.”

Another payment. Another week: “Small complication with the paperwork, sir. Another ₹3,000 for municipal clearance, then we’re completely done.”

By month three, the customer realizes an uncomfortable truth: they’re not buying property. They’re funding Tappu bhai’s chai, his phone bills, and probably his son’s wedding. One “small fee” at a time. Nobody expects promises to be kept, terms to remain unchanged, or principles to survive the next client meeting. Time to move to a better property dealer, possibly a scrupulous one.

The Oval Office Property Exchange

Somewhere in Washington, this business model has found new management.

Phase 1 – The Token:
“India, just remove all tariffs on American goods. Totally reciprocal! This shows you’re serious about our partnership.”

Phase 2 – The Documentation Fee:
“Excellent! Now about that Russian oil situation… that needs to stop. Buy our oil.  It’s affecting our deal.”
Sir You had told us to buy Russian Oil. Mr. Garlic Chutney said it on TV. “Oh..I have to check for details. But you stop that.”

Phase 3 – The Clearance Fee:
“Actually, your IT companies are taking American jobs. We’ll need new restrictions.”

Phase 4 – The Processing Fee:
“Your defense deals with France? That’s problematic for our partnership. Buy American instead.”

Phase 5 – The Realization:
The customer—sorry, ally—discovers they’re not getting partnership. They’re funding someone else’s campaign promises, one concession at a time.

Professional Standards

The difference between Tappu bhai and his international counterpart? Professional reputation.

Last month, Tappu bhai was sharing a beer with a client when his maternal uncle dropped by. Offered a drink, the uncle declined: “In the middle of the day?”

“So what,” Tappu replied, “we’re drinking too.”

His uncle shrugged: “Why would you be concerned? You’re just a property dealer.” (In Punjabi he spoke: Twada ki hai, tusi te property dealer ho)

Even family members don’t expect moral consistency from property dealers. The job already comes with flexible standards for honesty, reliability — and whatever’s left of a conscience.

The tragedy isn’t that the Oval Office now operates like a property dealer. The tragedy is that it has earned the same reputation:

Naturally, we all understand that promises are made to be broken, terms are made to be rewritten, and principles are made to be sacrificed—usually by the next client meeting.

The Global Property Portfolio

Today’s diplomatic catalog reads like Tappu bhai’s listings:

  • Same property, different pitch: American energy is “freedom fuel” to India, “job creator” to Texas, “strategic necessity” to Europe
  • Artificial urgency: “Limited time offer” changes daily based on tweet schedule
  • Moving goalposts: Yesterday’s handshake becomes today’s “renegotiation opportunity”
  • Token fee psychology: Once you pay the first “small” concession, each subsequent demand feels reasonable

The only difference? Tappu bhai works from a 200-square-foot office. The new management has considerably more space.

Market Reputation

In property circles, everyone knows the rule: Once you pay token money, you’re committed to the cycle. The dealer won’t find you property—he’ll find you reasons to pay more.

In diplomatic circles, the same rule now applies. Pay the tariff-removal token, and discover it was just the entry fee. The real costs come later, itemized as “strategic partnership maintenance charges.”

Tappu bhai’s uncle had it right. When someone’s professional reputation precedes their promises, why be concerned about their principles?

The difference is that most property dealers can only damage individual bank accounts of clients. But politicians play with global payment systems like toys — crashing markets, sinking businesses, and stealing food from the mouths of the marginalised.

© 2025 – A satirical commentary on modern diplomatic practices

Posted on by Sandeep

Kite game between India and USA

The Art of Diplomatic Kite Fighting:
How India Mastered the Ancient Game

A 26-Year Strategic Chess Game Disguised as Humility

It is the kite flying season in India but picture this: It’s Raksha Bandhan in New Delhi, but the rains have grounded all the kites. The rooftops that should be alive with colorful paper diamonds dancing in the wind are empty and wet. But perhaps that’s fitting, because the most spectacular kite fight of our times isn’t happening in the Delhi sky—it’s been playing out on the global stage for over two decades, and most of the world only just realized the game was on.

“It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal,”

(An observation by Henry Kissinger)

The Master’s Opening Move (1998)

Every kite fighter knows the secret: let your opponent think you’re just enjoying a casual flight while you’re actually positioning for the kill. In 1998, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to power, the world saw India’s nuclear tests and thought they understood the move. What they missed were the two quiet revolutions that would reshape everything.

First, Vajpayee began building India’s naval manufacturing from scratch—shipyards, aircraft carriers, even submarines. While everyone focused on the nuclear spectacle, India was quietly ensuring it could never again be held hostage by foreign naval suppliers. No more depending on others for spare parts or facing sanctions that could cripple your fleet.

But the second move was pure genius, invisible to almost everyone: the appointment of shikshamitras—education friends—in schools across India. While the world’s strategic analysts were counting warheads and naval vessels, Vajpayee was investing in something far more powerful: the minds of an entire generation. Those children who learned basic literacy through shikshamitras in 1998 are the adults using smartphones and digital payments today. Without that foundation, Modi’s Digital India would have been impossible.

And then, the masterstroke of appearing humble: Vajpayee cozied up to the USA through further liberalization. The Americans saw the economic opening and thought, “Perfect, India is integrating into our system.” They never realized they were providing the capital and technology India needed to build its independence.

The Stalled Decade (2004-2014)

Every chess game has moments where players lose sight of the bigger picture. The UPA years were India’s lost decade—not economically, but strategically. The Congress-led government essentially put Vajpayee’s long-term vision on pause, becoming too comfortable with the “junior partner” role rather than building independent power. It also killed the small scale industries by opening the doors for Chinese products without any reciprocation.

It’s like having a brilliant kite fighting position and then… doing nothing with it for ten years. The pieces were on the board, but nobody was playing the game.

The Acceleration (2014-2024)

When Modi returned in 2014, he didn’t start from scratch—he picked up Vajpayee’s chess game exactly where it had been left off. But now the conditions were perfect:

The shikshamitras had done their work. India had hundreds of millions of people who could read, write, and operate digital technology. The foundation was there for the great leapfrogging that followed.

Just as India jumped from no phones to smartphones for everyone, bypassing landlines entirely, the defense sector leapfrogged decades of gradual development. No more importing Bofors guns with their corruption scandals and foreign dependencies. Indigenous BrahMos missiles, Akash air defense systems, even India’s own answer to the American Humvee.

And when the Kargil conflict showed how dangerous it was to depend on others’ GPS systems—remember, the US denied GPS access to India while reportedly providing it to Pakistan—India built NavIC, its own navigation system. Never again would Indian forces be blinded during crucial moments.

The Kite Fighting Technique

Here’s where the kite fighting analogy becomes perfect. Every good kite fighter knows the classic technique:

  1. Let loose the kite – appear casual, let it fly high and far
  2. Position above your opponent’s thread – gain the crucial advantage
  3. Swift, sharp pull back – the moment of truth, speed is everything

Modi executed this flawlessly on the global stage. Years of appearing humble, praising Biden, Trump, whoever was in power. Everyone thought: “Modi is so accommodating, how can he refuse anything?” The world saw a deferential leader who would always be compliant.

But while appearing humble, India was gaining altitude—building economic strength, defense capabilities, strategic partnerships. The “Swift pull back” came when India suddenly wasn’t the accommodating partner everyone expected. Instead of being the compliant kite flying below, India started asserting its own interests decisively.

The genius is that opponents often don’t realize what’s happening until their string is cut.

The Domestic Foundation

None of this would have worked without genuine popular support. Modi’s welfare programs—subsidized housing for over ten million families, free food distribution, free healthcare for the poor—created an unshakeable domestic base that external pressure couldn’t penetrate.

This wasn’t just politics; it was strategic necessity. When the CIA tried regime change operations through the farmer protests and Shaheen Bagh demonstrations, using the classic color revolution playbook, Modi’s genuine mass support meant these movements couldn’t gain the critical momentum needed to topple governments.

The 2024 election victory was the final confirmation: the regime change strategy had failed completely.

The Global Chessboard Today

By 2024, the pieces were perfectly positioned. India’s COVID diplomacy—sending vaccines and medical aid to the Global South when the West was hoarding—created the same kind of gratitude and alignment that America built with the Marshall Plan post-WWII. Except India’s version was more powerful because it came from one developing country helping others, not a rich power helping devastated allies.

The results speak for themselves:

  • Putin, Xi, and Lula all backing Modi
  • Spain and Switzerland canceling F-35 orders after Trump’s tariffs
  • France, even under leftist leadership, supporting strategic autonomy
  • Australia and UK (Five Eyes countries!) signing FTAs with India
  • The Gulf becoming India’s largest trading partner
  • Both India and EU as observers in mBridge, the possible alternative to SWIFT
  • Even Indonesia’s president proudly declaring his Indian DNA

When Trump Forced the Hand

USA was not happy when India hit Kirana Hills which had housed it’s nuclear assets and frantic behind the scene pat on Pakistan ensured a smooth surrender for Trump to claim Noble Prize. Alas, Modi denied that opportunity in full public glare on the floor of Parliament.

However the real turning point came when Trump himself moved the goalposts. A mini-FTA deal had actually been reached between India and the USA—carefully crafted to keep American agricultural products out. This wasn’t protectionism; it was civilizational necessity.

American genetically modified food products simply lack the taste that Indian consumers expect. More critically, milk is part of morning prayer rituals for nearly a billion Indians. Milk from cows fed with non-vegetarian feed is religiously unacceptable. Even if Modi wanted to accept such imports, his government would be finished—some red lines cannot be crossed, no matter the economic pressure.

But Trump refused this carefully negotiated compromise. He moved the goalposts and insisted that agricultural products must be made duty-free imports into India. In essence, he demanded that Modi commit political suicide for a trade deal.

That was the moment the kite strings were truly positioned for cutting. Trump announced 25% tariff. Modi remained unmoved. No call. No rapprochements. Tariff raised to 50%. Still no reply.

A 30 trillion economy imposed tariff so high to bar import over an balance of payment of 41 billion on a 4 trillion economy. No flutter from the former colony of UK. Stoic silence was the only reply. Trump escalated further and announced there would not be any negotiations with India. Still no reply.

The Moment of Recognition

Yesterday, India’s defense ministry issued a statement without any triggering news report: they haven’t canceled any trade deals with the USA. The very act of denying something unprompted sent the clearest message possible: “We have that capability, we’ve been thinking about it, and it remains an active option.”

Airlines of India have already placed orders for over 500 Boeing Aircraft. These include Air India and Akasa Airlines. The value of these would be over 100 billions. India cancelled just one order for P8 reconnaissance aircraft from Boeing, signalling that more could follow. In fact the India could just impose reciprocal tariff of 50% on the import and deal would go to Airbus.

It’s like a kite fighter positioning their manja, (glass-coated thread) right above an opponent’s thread and casually mentioning, “Oh, by the way, I’m not planning to cut anything today.” When nobody even asked.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu is tweeting about wanting to visit India to help resolve US tensions. Even traditionally US-aligned countries are recognizing they need to hedge for the post-American-hegemony world.

And here’s a detail most people don’t know: India has a very old treaty with Israel that includes commitments aggression against Israel, that no other country has received from India—the only such arrangement in Indian diplomatic history. Subramanian Swamy revealed this years ago, and significantly, no one ever denied it. In diplomacy, that silence speaks volumes. That secret treaty puts India and Israel in special relationship. Both have never hesitated to make supplies in times of war faced by other.

The Tactical vs Strategic

The fundamental difference is now clear. Trump is a tactical player—he sees an opponent’s kite and immediately tries to cut it with aggressive moves, tariffs, threats. Quick wins, immediate confrontations.

Modi and his coalition are strategic players—they think in decades, not news cycles. They set up positions quietly, build alliances methodically, and wait for the perfect moment to execute.

When P. Chidambaram former Finance Minister of India, set a target of reaching a $4 trillion economy by 2043, he was thinking conventionally—linear growth, traditional development patterns. Modi’s team achieved it 19 years early because they understood the strategic pieces were already in place, waiting to be activated.

The Endgame

Today, we’re witnessing the climax of a 26-year strategic masterpiece. The “humble kite” that spent decades appearing accommodating while building strength is now positioned above everyone else’s strings.

Countries that thought they could control India through defense dependencies, economic pressure, or political interference are discovering their traditional tools don’t work anymore. When your opponent has indigenous defense manufacturing, alternative payment systems, genuine popular support, and strategic partnerships across multiple blocs, the old playbook becomes useless.

The chess game that began in 1998 has reached its decisive moment. And just like in kite fighting, by the time you realize you’re being outmaneuvered, your string is already being cut.

The monsoon rains may have grounded the kites over Delhi today, but the most important kite fight in modern geopolitics is soaring high above us all—and India is holding the winning string.

—

The art of kite fighting, whether with paper and manja or nations and treaties, remains the same: patience, positioning, and knowing exactly when to make your move.

Posted on by Sandeep

The real reasons for USA to impose tariffs on India.

Tariffs Beyond Trade: The Geopolitics of USA

India Economic Tensions in 2025

This article analyses the intensifying USA–India economic and geopolitical standoff in 2025, arguing that recent U.S. tariffs on Indian imports are not merely driven by trade policy but are tools of strategic signaling. India’s pushback—from full-spectrum defense modernization to retaliatory procurement suspensions and an assertive role in the Global South—reflects its broader repositioning as a sovereign pole in a multipolar world. The article also examines ongoing high-stakes Boeing aircraft orders by Indian airlines, evaluating how geopolitical escalation could spill over into commercial aviation sectors.

Introduction

As the world transitions deeper into a multipolar order in 2025, India’s ascent is reshaping power dynamics across continents. Once comfortably nestled as a strategic partner of the West, India is now asserting its independence in defense, digital sovereignty, and global trade frameworks. In retaliation, the U.S., under President Trump, has imposed steep tariffs totaling 50% on Indian goods—justified as responses to India’s Russia ties and trade barriers. However, these punitive measures are layered; they reflect more than transactional frustration—they reveal a geopolitical compulsion.

A Strategic Reversal: From Clinton to Trump

The current escalation represents more than policy adjustment. It marks a strategic rupture. Since President Bill Clinton’s efforts in the 2000s, successive U.S. administrations—Bush, Obama, and Biden—worked steadily to pivot away from their Cold War entanglement with Pakistan. They cultivated India as a long-term strategic partner. This entailed robust defense cooperation, civilian nuclear deals, and repeated affirmations of shared democratic values.

In contrast, President Trump’s return has brought an abrupt reversal. Within less than two months, he has begun dismantling this bipartisan consensus. He is re-embracing Islamabad and signaling a shift back to traditional Cold War calculus. This sees Pakistan as a frontline state and India as a non-aligned outlier.

The realignment is not yet fully institutionalized, but the direction is clear. Washington’s India policy is no longer insulated from transactional geopolitical arithmetic. Tariffs, airbase permissions, and intelligence sharing are once again being leveraged. Not to bring India closer, but to punish defiance.

Operation Sindoor: India’s Assertive Military Posture

Operation Sindoor marked a significant inflection point. Conducted on May 7, 2025, this Indian military operation surgically targeted cross-border terror infrastructure in Pakistan. India employed an integrated strike strategy using cruise missiles, kamikaze drones, and precision air strikes. It steered clear of nuclear or overtly military Pakistani targets.

The standout feature was the successful combat deployment of the indigenous Akashteer air defense system. This automated, AI-driven command-and-control platform achieved 100% aerial threat interception, according to military briefings. Symbolically and strategically, this demonstrated India’s transformation from a major buyer of defense systems to a capable indigenous defense innovator.

Operation Sindoor also took place in the shadow of escalating ideological provocation. Just days before the strike, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir delivered a speech implicitly reviving the two-nation theory. This was rooted in communal division and anti-Hindu animus. Shortly after, terrorists struck Hindu tourists in Pahalgam. This rekindled memories of 1990s Kashmir violence. The Indian establishment viewed this not merely as an isolated attack but part of a renewed ideological offensive. Operation Sindoor was a surgical, symbolic, and policy-calibrated response.

During a post-operation press conference on May 10, India’s Director General of Military Operations smirked when asked if the BrahMos strike on Pakistan’s Kirana Hills had hit nuclear assets. Rumors abound that the facility may have hosted sensitive materials. Possibly even American-origin nuclear components covertly maintained in the region. While there is no official confirmation, this speculation helps explain the unusually swift and harsh response from Washington in the days that followed.

The Russia Energy Nexus and De-dollarization Agenda

India’s continued import of Russian oil—and its conduct of bilateral trade in non-dollar currencies—has drawn U.S. ire. Despite vocal Western pressure, India has sustained these relationships, arguing for energy security and strategic independence.

Curiously, both the EU and the USA continue to quietly import crucial products from Russia. These include liquefied natural gas, fertilizers, uranium, and rare metals. In contrast, India’s transactions have been met with a 50% tariff wall. This differential treatment has led Indian policymakers and analysts to accuse Washington of applying a geopolitical double standard.

Ambassador of USA Eric Garcetti had earlier offered a diplomatic clarification: “India bought Russian oil because we wanted someone to purchase it at a price cap. That was not a violation; in fact, it was the intent of the policy. As a commodity, we aimed to prevent the price of oil from rising, and they fulfilled that.” Here is a clipping of

While intended as a diplomatic olive branch, the statement also underscores the strategic ambivalence of U.S. policy. It encourages price-cap enforcement while simultaneously penalizing its success.

Notably, even as the U.S. criticizes India’s trade with Russia, its own oil exports to India have soared. The U.S. share of oil in India’s imports has more than doubled. It rose from 3.5% in 2023-24 to 7.3% in April 2025. This commercial gain for the U.S. contrasts with its rhetorical alarm over India’s diversified energy sourcing.

Trump’s tariff architecture also reveals a telling pattern.USA chose to impose 50% tariff on India on trade imbalance of $41 billions but has maximum trade deficit of $296 billions with China and $236 billions with EU and both have been imposed lesser tariff. This only shows that reason of imposition of tariff is not economical but political.

Sectors where the U.S. is dependent on Indian supply chains—such as pharmaceuticals—have been conveniently exempted. While Indian garments, electronics, and auto components were slapped with a 50% wall, life-saving generic drugs faced no restrictions. This underscores the transactional nature of U.S. policy: punish where possible, preserve where necessary.

India’s local-currency trade deals with Russia and UAE, part of a broader Global South de-risking agenda, highlight its push toward a “post-dollar” international system. An idea that unsettles some in Washington and on Wall Street.

Strategic Pushback: India’s Retaliatory Moves

In August 2025, India retaliated against U.S. pressure with a subtle but symbolic step. The Ministry of Defence halted the expected procurement of six Boeing P-8I aircraft, a deal valued at over $3.5 billion. While officially framed as a cost reassessment amid tariff volatility, the suspension is unmistakably a counter-signal to Washington’s high-handed economic coercion.

This procurement halt represents India’s effort to reassert bargaining space and recalibrate its defense procurement strategies. Especially as it moves toward greater indigenous production under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Amid the escalating rhetoric and retaliatory defense postures, quiet diplomacy continues. U.S. negotiators are likely to visit India on August 25, 2025. This signals that strategic tension hasn’t closed all doors to dialogue.

The Boeing Civil Aviation Orders: Commercial Risk in a Strategic Chessboard

Beyond defense, the stakes for Boeing are even higher in India’s booming commercial aviation sector. Indian airlines, led by Air India, have placed or are in talks for orders totaling over 490 aircraft from Boeing. This is part of the largest fleet expansion in India’s history.

Though these deals are commercially driven, their execution relies on export licenses, financing approvals, and continued diplomatic goodwill. As Indo-U.S. friction intensifies, analysts caution that even these big-ticket commercial orders could face delays or renegotiation if Washington escalates further.

For now, these contracts remain intact, but industry observers agree: aviation—once seen as geopolitically neutral—may soon find itself caught in the crossfire of strategic tit-for-tats.

Agriculture, Data Sovereignty, and Cultural Dissonance

Adding to the friction are disputes over American agricultural products, notably dairy derived from cows fed with animal by-products, which India classifies as non-vegetarian. Milk as special religious place in daily rituals. These imports conflict with India’s religious and ecological sensibilities and are subjected to restrictions.

Watch this video clip of Narendra Modi vowing not to let down farmers of India.

At the same time, India’s requirement for data localization and the development of plug-and-play data centers reflects its growing emphasis on digital sovereignty. A move increasingly viewed in Washington as protectionist and strategically defiant.

India’s Role in BRICS and the Global South

India’s proactive leadership in BRICS and the Global South is another axis of U.S. discomfort. Under India’s influence, BRICS has expanded its focus vertically (climate, AI, energy) and horizontally (membership and financial architecture). India remains a bridge between the Global South and developed economies, but its alignment is increasingly issue-based, not bloc-based. This makes its actions unpredictable for powers used to binary alliances.

This non-alignment reimagined as multi-alignment is India’s answer to 20th-century superpower hierarchies.

India’s strategic balancing act continues. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China on August 31. An event watched closely by the West. Simultaneously, India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, is in Moscow meeting with President Putin. This reinforces New Delhi’s multi-vector diplomacy. This dual-track outreach—toward both Eastern blocs—confirms India’s determination to avoid camp-based alignments.

Trump’s Oval Office as Reality Show: Symbolism Matters

Under the Trump administration, diplomacy has taken on the optics of television. Inside the Oval Office, interactions with world leaders are now theatrical confrontations. Foreign accents are ridiculed, political points scored in real-time, and leaders like Zelensky and Ramaphosa have faced public rebukes during meetings. India, too, has found itself in the rhetorical line of fire. A clear shift from earlier warmth in bilateral photo-ops.

This performative diplomacy is more than optics. It’s part of how Washington now orchestrates foreign pressure.

Modi Declines the Oval Stage: Diplomacy Minus Drama

After the G-7 summit, President Trump of USA invited Prime Minister Modi for a White House visit. An invitation that was politely declined. Analysts attribute this to several factors that go beyond scheduling.

First, India’s political culture maintains a civil-military distinction in diplomacy. Any likelihood that Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir might also be in attendance made the prospect diplomatically untenable. Modi was not going to be photographed shaking hands with a man India blames for cross-border aggression.

Second, the nature of Trump’s public diplomacy has transformed the Oval Office into a performative space. More reality show than negotiation chamber. In televised encounters, foreign leaders are baited, interrupted, and even publicly mocked. With no opportunity to rebut falsehoods.

Even speculation that Modi might meet Trump during a possible UNSC visit in September is now seen as remote for the same reasons. The diplomatic cost of participating in such theatre is seen as too high.

In Delhi’s view, the ball lies squarely in Trump’s court. So far, his presidency has resurrected Nixon-era policies. And risks meeting the same fate: grand denial and ignorance.

Conclusion: Tariffs as Tactical Tools in a Global Chess Match

What began as a dispute over dairy, oil, and data has unfolded into a broader struggle over influence, alignment, and autonomy. The U.S. tariffs on Indian exports, totaling 50%, symbolize not only trade grievances but an intentional move to check India’s strategic independence. Particularly its strengthening ties with Russia and its stubborn pursuit of multipolarity.

India’s response has been calibrated: halting defense purchases, sustaining local-currency trade, doubling down on indigenous development, and signaling that commercial cooperation, too, is not immune to politics.

India, for its part, is not waiting passively. As per reports in Jagran, the government is finalizing a ₹20,000 crore export boost package aimed specifically at non-U.S. markets. This is an early signal of a “World Minus One” policy. India decoupling itself from economies that use unpredictability as leverage.

Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet is also examining fintech vulnerabilities, as American firms continue to extract significant revenues from India’s digital economy. There is now increasing talk of treating these apps the way Chinese apps like TikTok were handled post-Galwan: with regulatory throttling or outright bans. The metaphor is unavoidable—

Trump has done to India economically what China did physically in Galwan.

Equally concerning is the short notice of the tariff regime, which has thrown India’s export supply chains into chaos. Export orders are not casual transactions. They take months of planning, labor-intensive execution, and complex logistical coordination. A sudden tariff hike is not just economic coercion; it’s sabotage. Factories may shut, workers may be laid off, and entire business models may unravel. With no time to pivot.

Yet observers expecting India to retaliate loudly will likely be disappointed. The Modi government’s preferred mode of response is quiet, delayed, and disguised in procedural fog. Its foreign policy mirrors its domestic strategies—slow, legalistic, and impossible to trace to a single moment of vengeance.

One need only examine India’s internal policy toolkit: ask the groups that protested against NRC, or those alarmed by the comprehensive electoral roll clean-up. Just before elections, five million names were quietly deleted in Bihar, many flagged as duplicates or non-residents. No fanfare, no headlines—just an outcome.

India’s message to Washington may be similar: there will be a cost—but it will come silently and without warning.

As 2025 nears its final quarter, the world watches a new frontline emerge. Not one of open conflict, but of layered, multidimensional contest. Where strategy, sovereignty, and supply chains collide.

The U.S. may have once feared China’s dominance. Now it must contend with India’s defiance.

Posted on by Sandeep

India is a rich country.

The Soul of India’s Wealth: Beyond Currency and Colonial Shadows

When we consider a nation’s “richness,” metrics like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), per-capita income, or currency strength often dominate the conversation. Yet, for India, these conventional measures only scratch the surface of its profound wealth. India’s true richness lies not in fleeting economic indicators but in its historical resilience, its vibrant human capital, and its strategic, often understated, assets that anchor its sovereignty and future, exemplified by its technological triumphs in defense and space.

Strategic Sovereignty: The Bedrock of Prosperity

India’s wealth is deeply rooted in its sovereign control over its resources, a hard-won legacy of its post-independence journey. Unlike nations tethered to external dependencies or scarred by colonial plunder, India has prioritized strategic autonomy. This is most evident in its indigenous defense capabilities, showcased during the 98-hour war in May 2025, where the Akashteer air defense system proved its mettle. Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Akashteer is an AI-powered, fully indigenous system that neutralized Pakistani drones and missiles with a reported 100% kill rate during Operation Sindoor. Integrating real-time satellite surveillance, stealth drone swarms, and the NAVIC navigation system, Akashteer enabled precise, autonomous strikes on 11 Pakistani air bases, outmaneuvering foreign-supplied systems like the US AWACS and Chinese HQ-9. By channeling approximately 75% of its defense capital acquisition budget toward domestic procurement, India has built a robust defense industrial base, ensuring financial resilience and geopolitical independence. This self-reliance, demonstrated by Akashteer’s success, is a form of wealth that transcends balance sheets, safeguarding long-term prosperity.

Resource Wealth: Powering the Future

India’s natural endowments further amplify its wealth. The country holds 14% of the world’s rare earth reserves and is actively exploring lithium deposits, critical for the global energy transition and technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Additionally, India’s domestic oil and gas reserves, including recent discoveries in the Krishna-Godavari basin, bolster its energy security. India is also completely food self-sufficient, producing a vast array of crops to meet domestic needs, though it does import certain food articles to diversify its supply. By prioritizing the domestic use of these resources, India breaks free from a colonial past where its wealth fueled foreign empires. Strategic control over these assets shields India from global supply chain disruptions and positions it as a key player in the 21st-century economy, ensuring that its resources serve its people first.

Space Supremacy: NAVIC and ISRO’s Ascendancy

India’s space program, led by ISRO, is another pillar of its wealth, embodying technological sovereignty and global influence. The Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC), a regional GPS system, provides sub-meter accuracy across South Asia, surpassing foreign GPS systems in challenging terrains like mountains and deserts. NAVIC’s integration into Akashteer during the 98-hour war enabled pinpoint strikes, showcasing India’s ability to leverage space for strategic advantage. With over 80 spacecraft launched since 1975, including the INSAT, GSAT, Cartosat, and RISAT series, ISRO supports critical applications from defense to communications. India’s lunar missions, Mars orbiter, and planned crewed spaceflight by 2025 underscore its ambition, with a lunar landing targeted for 2040. This space prowess, entirely indigenous, enhances India’s security, economic resilience, and global standing, marking it as a space superpower.

Cultural Capital: The Golden Foundation

Perhaps the most unique facet of India’s wealth is its vast gold reserves, held not just by the state but by its people. Indian households collectively own an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of gold, surpassing the reserves of most global central banks. This decentralized store of value, revered as a symbol of prosperity, acts as an economic shock absorber, providing liquidity and stability to millions outside formal banking systems. Gold, accumulated over millennia, reflects a deep-seated wisdom forged through centuries of invasions and economic upheavals, favoring tangible assets over volatile fiat currencies. It is a golden thread weaving through India’s history, embodying a distinct form of national richness.

Human Wealth: The Heart of India

India’s greatest asset is its people. With a population of over 1.4 billion, India boasts a young, dynamic workforce driving innovation in technology, science, and entrepreneurship, producing the largest number of technocrats, engineers, and STEM graduates globally. The Indian diaspora, spread across the globe, is a testament to the nation’s industrious nature and cultural upbringing. Indians have not only assimilated seamlessly into diverse societies but have also risen to leadership roles, heading international institutions like the World Bank and IMF, and steering multinational corporations such as Google, Microsoft, and PepsiCo. This global influence, paired with significant remittances—amounting to over $100 billion annually—strengthens India’s foreign exchange reserves and amplifies its economic clout. Initiatives like Digital India and a thriving startup ecosystem, home to over 100 unicorns, showcase India’s intellectual capital. This human wealth, rooted in a cultural heritage that fosters resilience, adaptability, and ambition, forms the beating heart of India’s prosperity.

A Tapestry of Resilience and Vision

India’s richness transcends economic metrics, weaving together strategic autonomy, natural resources, space supremacy, cultural wealth, and human potential. As the fourth largest economy in USD terms and third in PPP terms, India’s economic might complements its multifaceted wealth. The 98-hour war and Akashteer’s triumph, powered by NAVIC and ISRO’s satellite grid, highlight India’s technological self-reliance. Its control over critical minerals, vast gold reserves, food self-sufficiency, and vibrant populace—both within its borders and across the globe—create a unique form of prosperity, one that is patiently cultivated, fiercely guarded, and deeply rooted in the nation’s soul. As India navigates global challenges, this multifaceted wealth ensures it remains a formidable force, thriving on its own terms.

Posted on by Sandeep

Tariff and tariff everywhere yet no solace for Trump.

🏛️ Trumpian Tarrifficcing: The Coliseum of Strategic Absurdity

Opening Ceremony: Pandemonium, Escorted

Welcome to the Coliseum of Strategic Absurdity, where the crowds roar—not in applause, but over delayed shipments and contradictory tweets. Glitz, ego, and a Jumbotron featuring Donald Trump’s “Tarrif Tracker” meet bureaucratic inertia from India’s world-class Ministry of Paperwork. Bets are placed not on who wins, but on whose customs queue collapses last.

A lone announcer bellows:

“Tonight: The art of the deal meets the paperwork of denial. Let the games begin!”

Act I: The Basmati and Mango Blockade

Cast: Trump (The Tariff Titan), India (The Silent Scribe), Chai-Sipping Customs Officer

The curtain rises on a refrigerated dock somewhere in Mundra port. Pallets of basmati rice and Alphonso mangoes huddle together for warmth as customs officers practice the ancient Indian sport of “routine inspection.” Hours pass. Then days. Local pigeons organize a sit-in demanding “free trade for all feathery stakeholders.”

Trump, noticing a dip in New Jersey mango supply, erupts: “Obnoxious!” He schedules a 3AM Truth Social post. But in Delhi, officialdom simply shrugs. “Routine inspection,” a ministry statement says, sipping masala chai in full Lotus Pose, while the containers bloom a secondary crop of moss.

Media Chyron: US outraged. India: Only the paperwork has moved.

Rumors of a secret “Basmati Withdrawal Agreement” swirl. Analysts on both sides debate if “green channel” in Indian ports refers to customs or actual plant growth on stuck rice sacks.

Act II: Oil Promises Evaporate

Cast: Oil Barrels, Indian Procurement Committee, Trump (Voice-only, on speakerphone)

Once, there was a handshake deal. America ships oil, India keeps tweeting about “strategic partnership.” Then, Trump live-tweets the entire negotiation, ranking Indian negotiators by “likeability.” Within hours, a procurement memo floats through Indian ministries:

“Due to evolving global circumstances, alternate suppliers are being considered.”

New map: Angolan and Abu Dhabi tankers cheerfully wave from Gujarat’s coast. “We’re reviewing our procurement strategy,” intone officials—diplomatese for, “Congratulations, you’ve just been left on read.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s team triangulates between blaming Canada and threatening to convert the Statue of Liberty into a refinery.

An intern whispers: “Sir, India says they’re focusing on renewables…” Trump, confused, asks if “renewables” is a golf resort in Goa.

Act III: Defence Deals on Ice

Cast: HAL, DRDO, Adani Defence, Enigmatic US Weapons Salesman, Trump (in full camo)

Gone are the days of glitzy contracts and F-16 flypasts. Now, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and DRDO rediscover patriotism in their HR mission statements. Boards meeting in windowless rooms—PowerPoint slides emerge: “Freedom Through Indigenous Procurement” and “Atmanirbhar: Because Imports Fluctuate, Bureaucracy Endures”.

Across the table, the US arms salesman, jacket adorned with tiny eagles, offers a commemorative pin. “We can throw in a Trump-autographed missile shell.” HAL’s chief demurs, referencing the great Dreamliner Malfunction of Ahmadabad as proof that “true sovereignty is manufactured in Peenya.”

Air India, sensing the mood, pauses the Boeing deal with a press release citing “unexpected turbulence in the supply chain of optimism and landing gears.”

The Pentagon receives a gesture from New Delhi: “We value the partnership—please enjoy our new line of khadi uniforms.”

Silence, somewhere, from the Dead Economy Chamber.

Act IV: Quad Goes VC

Cast: Quad Nations, Silicon Valley Tech Bros, Trump (with parade baton)

The defence summit? India is “on mute”—literally. Instead, Modi joins a Zoom breakout room, replete with family photos and a VPN. The Quad, erstwhile security pact, is now a Silicon Valley pitchfest. Australia pushes lithium. Japan flashes a rare earth mining JV. The US ambassador tries to share a blockchain presentation, but the connection lags just enough to prevent policy disaster.

Trump, expecting a tank parade, is offered a filtered cat avatar and a politely worded 15-minute slot to “promote synergies in battery storage.” He asks Melania if this counts as “strategic.”

Meanwhile, India quietly invests in a meme coin dedicated to Indo-Pacific resilience and marks the calendar: “Next face-to-face, 2050?”

Act V: Stadium Diplomacy Collapses

Cast: Motera Stadium (furloughed), Cricket Board, Trump (misreading GPS), Lahore Dignitaries

The famed “Namaste Trump” moment at Motera is now a legend—a Wikipedia page flagged for possible exaggeration. Stadium lights flicker, then fade. Cricket diplomats declare retirement. “All stadiums are on a fact-finding mission to nowhere,” says a press release.

Trump, redirected by an optimistic GPS, arrives in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Instead of rallying fans, he finds himself greeted by a panel including Golani, ex-terrorist-turned-festival-organizer, and General Asim Muneer, RSVP’ing on behalf of “deep state multilateralism.”

A new event is born: the “Strategic Ambiguity Cup.” The only rule is there are no rules, and every commentator disagrees about who is winning. The crowd, unsure if booing is safe, checks for drones.

Rumors swirl that Trump vows to return with a baseball bat and a 12-part docuseries: “America’s Greatest Trade Showdowns.”

Finale: The Tarrifficcing Weather Forecast

  • 🌾 Basmati: Cloudy with a chance of customs, rice grain futures settle on “mostly ambiguous.”
  • 🛢️ Oil: Evaporating promises, scattered rerouting, sunny in Angola, stormy in Houston.
  • 🛡️ Defence: Frozen with indigenous flurries; occasional gusts of press releases.
  • 📞 Quad: Dial-in diplomacy, no handshakes; Zoom storms expected.
  • 🏟️ Stadiums: Closed for renovation, open for satire, seating limited to nerve.

“India doesn’t retaliate loudly. It retaliates bureaucratically. Trump calls it obstruction; Indians call it tradition; the world calls it yoga for diplomats. Only the paperwork wins in the end.”

— End Scene. No mangoes were cleared during the making of this performance.

Posted on by Sandeep

Hegemony of USA and it’s Perils.

Understanding China’s Critique: “USA Hegemony and Its Perils”

In February 2023, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) released a significant report titled “US Hegemony and Its Perils.” This document serves as a comprehensive and sharp critique of what China perceives as the United States’ detrimental global influence across various domains. The report aims to expose the “abuse of hegemony” by the U.S. and draw international attention to its negative consequences for world peace and stability.

Key Arguments from the Report:

Introduction Overview:

The report asserts that since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. has acted boldly to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, pursue and abuse hegemony, promote subversion, and willfully wage wars, causing significant harm to the international community. It claims the U.S. employs a “hegemonic playbook” that includes staging “color revolutions,” instigating regional disputes, and launching wars under the guise of promoting democracy, freedom, and human rights. The report accuses the U.S. of clinging to a Cold War mentality, engaging in bloc politics, and overstretching the concept of national security to impose unilateral sanctions and control. It also criticizes the U.S. for selectively applying international law and rules to serve its own interests while claiming to uphold a “rules-based international order.”

I. Political Hegemony—Throwing Its Weight Around:

  • Interference in Internal Affairs: Allegations of U.S. interference, including a “Neo-Monroe Doctrine” in Latin America, “color revolutions” in Eurasia (e.g., Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan), and the “Arab Spring” in West Asia and North Africa, leading to chaos.
  • Imposing Values and Systems: Argument that the U.S. arbitrarily judges other countries’ democracies and fabricates a false narrative of “democracy versus authoritarianism” to incite division.
  • Double Standards: Accusations of applying double standards on international rules, prioritizing self-interest, and placing domestic law above international law, often withdrawing from international treaties.

II. Military Hegemony—Wanton Use of Force:

  • History of Violence and Expansion: Stating that U.S. history is characterized by violence and expansion, citing examples like the slaughter of Native Americans and frequent wars.
  • Frequent Wars and Interventions: Assertion that the U.S. frequently launches wars and interferes to establish a “Pax Americana,” seen as a unipolar world.
  • Global Military Presence and Alliances: Criticism of the U.S.’s vast network of military bases and alliances worldwide as tools for maintaining supremacy.
  • Humanitarian Disasters: Highlighting devastating humanitarian consequences of U.S. military actions, including civilian casualties and long-term instability (e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan).

III. Economic Hegemony—Looting and Exploitation:

  • Dollar Hegemony: Describing the U.S. dollar as the “main source of instability and uncertainty in the world,” used to impose sanctions and manipulate global markets.
  • Economic Coercion: Accusing the U.S. of using economic coercion, such as sanctions and trade wars (e.g., “Chip 4 alliance”), to suppress competitors.
  • Unfair Practices: Criticism for protectionist policies, “long-arm jurisdiction,” and abuse of export controls, disrupting global supply chains.

IV. Technological Hegemony—Monopoly and Suppression:

  • Monopoly and Suppression: Asserting that the U.S. seeks to maintain technological supremacy by monopolizing high-tech fields and suppressing other countries’ development.
  • Weaponizing Technology: Accusations of politicizing and weaponizing technological issues, implementing export controls, and imposing sanctions (e.g., Huawei).
  • Cyber Attacks and Surveillance: Allegations of widespread cyber attacks and surveillance on other countries, violating international law.

V. Cultural Hegemony—Spreading False Narratives:

  • Cultural Infiltration: Claiming the U.S. spreads its values and culture globally through various channels to influence public opinion.
  • Disinformation and Smear Campaigns: Accusations of using disinformation to attack other countries and engaging in smear campaigns.
  • Control of International Media: Suggestion that the U.S. exerts undue influence over international media outlets to shape narratives.

The report concludes by calling on the U.S. to “conduct a serious soul search,” abandon its hegemonic practices, and promote genuine multilateralism. It urges the U.S. to contribute to world peace and development instead of creating division and conflict. The overall message is that U.S. hegemony is a peril to global peace, stability, and the well-being of all peoples, and that a more equitable and multipolar world order is needed.

Download the Full Report: US Hegemony and Its Perils (Chinese MFA)

Please note: The link above directs to the official English version of the report on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.