Poonam Sharma
In the game of global politics, friends and foes frequently change places with bewildering rapidity. One moment, countries greet one another as “strategic partners”; the next, they fight over trade rivalry or geopolitics. The India–U.S. relationship has reflected this very volatility—characterized by affection, but plagued by recurring irritations. But what has happened in the last 24 hours is something much deeper: India is no longer a subservient member of the U.S.-dominated global order. It has declared itself an independent force, not hesitant to confront Washington on trade, defense, and energy.
Three bold actions—interrupting U.S.-destined postal services, giving a key fighter engine contract to France over an American firm, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s unyielding refutation on Russian oil—have caused ripples far larger than Washington. Cumulatively, these actions demonstrate not just diplomatic bravado but national pride and willingness to go it alone.
The Postal Gambit: Commerce Meets Sovereignty
The initial shock was that India Post suddenly canceled all parcel and package shipments to the U.S. from August 25. Decades of small merchants, e-commerce websites, and families have counted on these media to send products and presents. The cancellation was not an ordinary logistical step—it was a reaction to America’s solo change in customs policy.
Until now, packages valued up to $100 entered the United States duty-free. But an executive order of July 30 eliminated this exception, taxing each shipment no matter what its value. Worse still, Washington made this policy change without putting in place clear collection mechanisms or assigning officials accountable for enforcing them. Airlines and carriers protested, unfitted to manage the bedlam. India Post had no option but to suspend services entirely.
Apart from the discomfiture to business, there is the symbolism. India has signaled America: if you interfere with world trade with unilateral policy, you can expect tit for tat. This is not yesterday’s India that took policy shocks in quiet stoicism. This is an India that will use its systems to compel even the great powers to think twice about their arbitrariness.
The French Engine Deal: Breaking Free of Dependence
The second punch was in the defense arena. The U.S. giant General Electric had been providing engines for India’s Tejas fighter for years. But when New Delhi asked for closer cooperation for its fifth-generation stealth fighter project, Washington’s response was half-hearted—proposing to transfer just 80% of the technology subject to restrictive conditions. Worse still, supplies of already-ordered engines were stalled for more than two years, causing dent in trust.
Step in France’s Safran, with an offer that was nothing less than revolutionary: 100% transfer of technology. From drawings to production rights, the engine would be completely in Indian control. Even export rights were guaranteed. For India, this was not merely a question of purchasing hardware—it was about creating an indigenous aero-engine industry, something that no nation has readily shared.
By opting for France over the U.S., India gave a clear signal: no more will it be bound by American defense diktats. At a contract value of almost ₹58,000 crore, India is investing in independence and not dependence. The end result will be a stealth fighter aircraft by 2035, armed with cutting-edge sensor fusion and radar-avoiding technologies. To Washington, this is not just a lost sale—it is a strategic rebuff.
Jaishankar’s Oil Bombshell: A Diplomatic Earthquake
The third and most powerful moment came through words. When confronted with criticism over buying discounted Russian crude and refining it for re-export—including to the West—External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s response was blunt: “If this is a problem for you, don’t buy from us. We’ll find another market.”
Diplomacy typically comes with a cloak of caution. But here was India’s best diplomat, taking on the world’s strongest state without any hesitation. It wasn’t merely a plea for energy security—it was a declaration of principle. India will not at any cost give up national interest in the face of Western sanctions.
This assertiveness was unimaginable. Ten years ago, India buckled under Western oil sanctions against Iran. Now, it won’t be bullied. The message to Washington and Brussels is unambiguous: India’s policies are being made in New Delhi, not prescribed from overseas.
Europe’s Quiet Revolt and the U.S. Decline
What is more remarkable about India’s defiance is the background of Europe’s increasing discomfort with American unilateralism. European leaders have been quietly grumbling for years at Washington exploiting trade rules, extraterritorial sanctions, and even the strategic emphasis of NATO. The war in Ukraine uncovered how American choices tend to have Europe paying the economic price—strangled energy supplies, inflation, and deindustrialization—while America reaps benefits from arms sales and liquified natural gas exports.
French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly advocated for “strategic autonomy,” cautioning that Europe shouldn’t be drawn into U.S.-China clashes. Germany has been cautious but expressed unease with Washington’s economic blackmail. Even the European Union’s trade policy now veers towards self-preservation instead of accommodation with U.S. writ.
Here, India’s bold move speaks volumes outside Asia. They set a blueprint for countries weary of U.S. hegemony: collaborate where interests converge but push back when sovereignty is threatened. The world is gradually, maybe inexorably, moving toward a U.S.-influence-free multipolar world.
India’s Pride: The Making of a Global Power
The pride in India’s recent moves is not merely in defying Washington but in redefining what partnership is. India is not spurning the U.S.—it is spurning the idea of being a junior partner. In walking the tightrope between Russia, France, and Japan and even Gulf states, India is constructing a multi-vector diplomacy that insulates it from over-reliance on any single power.
These choices are also a sign of confidence. A nation that once looked to the foreigner for approval now has an economy strong enough, technology sophisticated enough, and diplomacy nimble enough to stand up and say “no” when necessary. For many Indians, this is not just geopolitics—it is the return of dignity.
A Turning Point for the 21st Century
When historians look back, they might view these three moves as milestones of India’s strategic maturation. Suspension of postal relations, Safran engine deal, and Jaishankar’s oil riposte each symbolize different aspects of sovereignty—economic, defense, and diplomatic. They collectively indicate that India won’t play by rules scripted out in Washington anymore.
The 21st century is not fated to be unipolar. With Europe edging away, Asia stepping into independence, and countries such as India taking the forefront, the American stranglehold on world order is weakening. The question is no longer if America will adjust to a multipolar world—it is when.
India, on the other hand, has already accepted its place. No longer a pawn on another’s chessboard, it is today a player remaking the rules. That is India’s pride today: not survival in a harsh world, but leadership at making a more equitable one.
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