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Introduction

India’s strategic autonomy traditionally meant balancing major powers while preserving independent decision-making. However, recent geopolitical crises, technology dependence, and economic vulnerabilities have raised concerns that India’s autonomy is increasingly shaped by deeper reliance on American strategic and economic power.

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Strategic Autonomy as Internalised Dependence 

• Policy Alignment: India’s soft response to the Russia-Ukraine war and closer ties with the U.S. and Israel during the Iran crisis show a gradual alignment with American strategic interests.
  Eg: India abstained on several UN resolutions on Ukraine while simultaneously deepening QUAD and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
• Security Reliance: India increasingly depends on US-led frameworks for balancing China in the Indo-Pacific.
  Eg: Agreements such as COMCASA, BECA, and LEMOA have strengthened interoperability between Indian and US militaries.
• Technology Dependence: Critical sectors like semiconductors, AI, and defence technology rely heavily on US partnerships.
  Eg: The India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) focuses on semiconductors, quantum computing, and defence innovation.
• Economic Exposure: India remains vulnerable to American trade and tariff decisions despite diversification efforts.

Persistence of Strategic Autonomy 

• Russian Oil: India continued purchasing discounted Russian crude despite Western pressure, reflecting independent economic choices.
  Eg: According to India’s Ministry of Petroleum data, Russia became one of India’s top oil suppliers after 2022.
• Multi-Alignment: India maintains ties with competing global powers simultaneously.
  Eg: India participates in QUAD with the US while remaining active in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
• Strategic Diversification: India is reducing overdependence through broader partnerships with France, Japan, and West Asian countries.
• Independent Positions: India frequently avoids bloc politics in multilateral forums.
  Eg: India consistently advocates “strategic autonomy” and “multipolarity” in G20 and UN discussions.
• Domestic Capability: India is attempting to strengthen indigenous economic and defence capacity.
  Eg: Government initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes aim to reduce external dependence.

Way Forward

• Economic Resilience: Strengthen manufacturing, energy security, and supply-chain diversification to reduce vulnerability to external coercion.
• Technology Capacity: Invest in domestic R&D and innovation ecosystems like National Quantum Mission instead of excessive dependence on foreign technologies.
• Issue-Based Diplomacy: Adopt flexible partnerships without ideological alignment with any single power bloc.
  Eg: Continue engaging both Western and Global South forums simultaneously.
• Regional Stability: Handle neighbourhood challenges independently rather than relying excessively on external powers.
  Eg: Strengthening BIMSTEC and Indian Ocean regional cooperation.
• Global Leadership: Revive India’s traditional role as a voice for international law, sovereignty, and equitable multipolarity.
  Eg: India’s emphasis on “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” during its 2023 G20 Summit presidency.

Conclusion

India’s partnership with the United States offers strategic and technological benefits, yet excessive dependence risks weakening genuine autonomy. India’s long-term rise depends on balancing partnerships with self-reliance, diversified diplomacy, and an independent vision rooted in national and global interests.

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