The Indian government has been facing pressure from the United States government to align with its strategic preferences for decades. To this end, the US has employed various methods, including diplomatic pressure, the use of force and tariffs, among others, to make India succumb to its demands. However, so far, thanks to the visionary outlook and leadership qualities of Indian leaders, India has not yielded to such pressure and continues to pursue policies that are in the best interest of the country. 

Almost every Indian Prime Minister has faced political pressure from the USA, making it almost a prerequisite experience in their political resume. It would not be wrong to say that if one aspires to become the Prime Minister of India, one must be highly skillful in managing political pressure from the USA. Interestingly, almost every Indian PM has been relatively successful in managing pressure from the US, perhaps because succeeding in Indian politics requires the ability to handle multiple forms of internal and external pressure.

One might ask why it appears so certain that, regardless of which party or Prime Minister is in power in India or the USA, pressure from the US government on India is inevitable. The answer lies in the realities of geopolitics. The USA is a superpower that has dominated world politics since World War II and has remained the sole superpower for the past three decades, ensuring its hegemony over global systems, institutions, media, press, and dominant narratives. It has also earned a reputation for destabilizing or overthrowing governments in political systems with which it is uncomfortable, whether in Afghanistan, Cuba or in Iraq. India’s neighbouring polities have also been victims of this approach to geopolitics; recent political developments in Pakistan and Bangladesh serve as notable examples.

On the other hand, India is a country that has earned recognition for pursuing an independent foreign policy and maintaining strategic autonomy. In this regard, there are several important lessons that world politics can learn from India.

Lessons from India

First, India has consistently placed sovereignty above all else. Over the years, especially after the First World War and during the Cold War, many countries aligned themselves either with the US or the USSR. India, however, chose a far more difficult path by following a non-aligned foreign policy. While this policy may have caused India to miss certain economic opportunities at times, it ensured that New Delhi retained the authority to make its own policy decisions, rather than having them dictated by Washington or Moscow. This was a lesson many newly independent nations failed to appreciate, as they prioritized short-term benefits over the long-term costs of losing sovereignty. 

Pakistan is one of the best examples in this regard. It chose to align itself with the USA and as a result, received billions of dollars in assistance from the US and the IMF(International Monetary Fund). However, it also became a frontline state in the US-led war against the USSR in Afghanistan, which led to the loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, the spread of terrorism and decades of economic setbacks. Even today, Pakistan’s foreign policy continues to be influenced by Washington, something that Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan publicly regretted while praising Indian policymakers for their strategic foresight. His remarks reflected the reality that India’s insistence on strategic autonomy has allowed it to safeguard its national interests during crises. Contemporary examples such as India’s refusal to join Western sanctions on Russia, continued defence cooperation with Moscow and independent decision-making in energy purchases show how this long-term approach continues to benefit India, even under intense global pressure.

Second, the maturity of Indian leadership, democracy, and institutions has played a crucial role in sustaining political stability. Over the years, Indian institutions have delivered outcomes and ensured continuity in governance. India has significantly reduced extreme poverty and, except for the period of Emergency, has never resorted to dictatorship. Instead, it has consistently practiced democracy. This has ensured that citizens retain faith in institutions and leadership. Peaceful transfers of power, an independent judiciary, regular elections and a free press have strengthened internal stability. 

Sharp Contrast

This stands in contrast to countries such as Venezuela, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where weak institutions and governance failures have created political instability. A failed system creates conditions where external powers find opportunities to interfere or influence domestic politics. Recent political crises in Sri Lanka and Nepal further highlight how economic mismanagement and institutional weakness reduce a country’s ability to resist external pressure. India’s institutional strength, even during challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic slowdowns, has helped maintain internal order and policy continuity.

India’s experience shows that strategic autonomy, strong institutions, and long-term thinking remain the most effective tools for safeguarding national interest in an unequal global system, where power is concentrated in the hands of a few states and pressure on independent countries is a constant reality.

(The author is a final-year political science student with a keen interest in geopolitics and international affairs. Views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at sheetanshudwivedi48@gmail.com and on X at @SheetanshuDwiv3)