UNITED STATES TRUMP 2.0 REVERTS TO 'CHINA-HEDGING' AND 'RISK-AVERSION' POLICY TO OFFSET GROWING GEOPOLITICAL ISOLATION

In marked contrast to US President Trump 2.0 imperious postures in 2025 across the global geopolitical landscape, what singularly stands out is Trump 2.0 virtual appeasement of China by totally reversing Trump 1.0 (2016-20) 'Hard Line' strategy.

United States under President Trump 2.0 seemingly fearful of China's retaliatory economic and massive military power, seems in 2025-26 to have reverted to older versions of US-Strategy of "China-Hedging' and 'Risk Aversion'.

President Trump 2.0 gave early notice of his inclination of change of China-policy during his bid for second-term election campaign.

Retrospectively, analyzing after corelating it with Trump 2.0 postures, one could surmise that Trump 1.0 China-postures were the 'China-bullying' phase. That China with its 'brinkmanship propensities' stood its ground in the Trade Wars drove home to Trump that China was not ready to take bullying strategies by Trump.

China was well prepared and ready with contingency plans to deal with a belligerent Trump 2.o unlike other Major Powers who had not tasted Trump 1.0 Trade Wars.

Geopolitically, in January 2025, when President Trump began his second term, the challenges facing the United States emerged more diverse and complex. 

In Europe, Russia's invasion of Ukraine was ongoing in its third year, more intense and devastating.

 China without putting 'boots on the ground' was heavily subsidizing Russia's Ukraine Offensives militarily and economically.

The Middle East abounded with military conflicts. The chief of which and most inflammable being Iran which the United States could not suppress. Israel was besieged by Iranian military proxy armed militias from Houthis disrupting the Red Sea to Hamas and Hezbollah besieging Israel.

Russia and China were strong supporters of Iran with both having separate Mutual Security Agreements with Iran. Iran's military inventories are of Russian and Chinese origin, besides sizeable indigenous defence production infrastructure.              

In effect, a Russia-Iran-China Axis was being perceived in Middle East operating against the United States and Israel.

China had outclassed the American unquestioned predominance in the Pacific by attaining full-spectrum dominance over the South China Sea and placing the United States on uninterrupted strategic tenterhooks with prospects of Taiwan Invasion----a nightmare for United States credibility as a credible nett provider n of security in the Pacific.

 The United States in 2026 is faced by a Russia-China-North Korea Axis in the Western Pacific, singly and jointly, are in military confrontation with the United States and all three are Nuclear Weapons Powers with Missiles Arsenals capable of hitting the United States.

China figuring intensely against United States security interests and influence from Europe to Middle East to Pacific, seems to have weighed heavily in forcing President Trump 2.o to apply 'Reverse Gears' to Trump 1.o ' Hard Line' Strategy against China. 

 President Trump in the run-up to his second term as President seems to have awoken to the fact that the United States could not defeat China with its massive economic and military resources.

The United States lack of economic or military compellance power over China thus prompted President Trump to induce and enlist China along with the United States in a "G-2" Global Security Management setup.

This G2 Concept earlier proposed by President Obama around 20025-08 did not take off. Revived by President Trump in late 2025, this time too it will fail.

United States in 2026 is in virtual adversarial confrontation with its Allies and Strategic Partners due to President Trump's unpredictable geopolitics and Tariffs Terrorism.

United States growing estrangement in 2026 with virtually the whole world has positioned China to raise its brinkmanship hackles against the United States.

China had declared plans to reunify Taiwan with China Mainland by 2027. This is where China would escalate brinkmanship to peak levels, even war itself.

President Trump is unlikely to defend Taiwan militarily, should China resort to war.

 President Trump aware of United States war-waging limitations in 2026, and minus unqualified geopolitical and military support from its erstwhile Allies, will take the easy "exit route" of adopting 'China Hedging' and 'Risk Aversion' policy to avoid a direct US-China War.

CHINA'S 2026 IMPERATIVES TO CUTOFF STRATEGIC LIFE-SUPPORT TO PAKISTAN ARMY CEASING TO BE A CHINA-ASSET

China ever since the Sino-Indian War 1962 has consistently provided incessant strategic life-support to Pakistan Army which effectively controls and dictates Pakistan's foreign and defence policies. The Chinese aim was to build-up a Chinese 'Proxy' for 'Containment of India' in South Asia.

Pakistan Army despite its emphasis on "Iron Brother" ties with China has spasmodically gravitated towards United States strategic orbit. It pivoted back to China when the transactional ties with United States stood frayed.

 The two major US Military Interventions in Afghanistan and US exit from Afghanistan are glaring examples.

This time around from May 2025 with advent of President Trump 22.0 regime in Washington coinciding with Pakistan's 'Strategic Humiliation' by India in OP SINDOOR in May 2025, and consequent Pakistan's disillusionment with Chinese military inventories made Pakistan Army Chief, now Chief of Defence Forces to strategically repivot towards United States.

Unlike past pivots of Pakistan Army Chiefs towards United States, the events in US-Pakistan from May2025 onwards indicate that while still attempting to keep balanced relations with China, Pakistan Defence Forces Field Marshal Munir now with unprecedented powers over Pakistan's political and security directions has decided to firmly place Pakistan in the American strategic orbit.

Noticeably, General Munir was elevated to rank of Field Marshal soon after Pakistan's crushing military humiliation by India. General Munir is to be held squarely responsible for this defeat.

Analytically, what emerges is that the United States pressurized Pakistan for elevation of General Munir to Field Marshal with unparallel political powers to position at apex level of Pakistan decision-making, a pliable Pakistan Defence Chief to serve American national interests in the region.

The fact that Munir has made three visits to Washington since May 2025 including a Lunch at White House specifically for him vividly illustrates how President Trump has strategically ensnared Pakistan Defence Chief.

Pakistan's strategic moves since May 2025 of inducing Defence Chief Munir needs no repetition. Increased geopolitical and military cooperation and aid by Trump 2.0 has spiraled. retrieving American hold

Brief analysis of President Trump 2.0 reversing gears in South Asian policies can be attributed to Trump Administration likely use of Pakistan as a springboard for inevitable US military invasion of Iran and retrieving hold over Afghanistan's Major Airbases like Bagram and "Neutralizing China's Stranglehold" over Pakistan.

To military minds it should be evident that the very strategic investments that China made in Pakistan to outflank its 'Malacca Dilemma' in terms of Karakoram Highway and Gwadur Port and its Airbase can in reveres be used by United States (courtesy Pakistan Defence Forces) to launch US military interventions against China's hold on Tibet and Xiangjiang--- rich is strategic minerals.

China must seriously deliberate over these unfolding American security challenges unfolding and amplified by Defence Chief Munir offering President Trump leases for prospecting strategic minerals in Baluchistan with added incentive of United States to develop Pasini seaport alongside Gwadur.

Wit such moves as outlined above, China should visualize the emerging picture that Pakistan Defence Chief intends supplanting China with United States in Baluchistan where China has made billions of dollars investments in CPEC Corridor linking China with Gwadur Port. China has already pulled up Pakistan recently for tardy implementation of these projects.

China should now see Pakistan Defence Chief diluting its Chinese military origin inventories with American and Turkish military hardware.

Pakistan Defence Chief's continued imprisonment of Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and his brutalization, flouting Judiciary relief for him, needs to be viewed By China as inimical to China's interests. Public memory has to be reminded that PM Imran Khan was strongly pro-China and his 'Regime Change' was facilitated by the 'Deep State' setup both in Pakistan and United States.

Geopolitically, it would be wise for China to cut its losses in strategic over-investments in Pakistan. The very rationale of China's strategic life-support to Pakistan Army of proxy 'India Containment' stands knocked out after May 2025 OP SINDOOR, cumulatively heaped after 1965, 1971 and 1999 Pakistan miliary defeats by India. 

Finally, the major strategic deduction for China is that Pakistan is no longer "China's Strategic Asset" but now evolving as United States' "Cats Paw' to make China's Southern Belly as strategically vulnerable.

INDIA'S 'MODI DOCTRINE' OF MULTIALIGNMENT FOREIGN POLICY WILL BE NEW FLAVOUR OF GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS 2025

 India's Modi Doctrine foreign policy with its defining characteristic of "Multi-alignment" is emerging as the new flavor of global multipolar geopolitics in 2025 as Nations grapple with the geopolitical turbulence generated by U President Trump 2.0 unpredictable and impulsive policies.

Modi Doctrine has actively evolved since 2014 when PM Narendra Modi -led BJP Government came into power. The goalposts were laid to deal for India to navigate the onset of multipolarity in global geopolitics.

Modi Doctrine of Multi-Alignment should not be confused with Former PM Nehru's Non- Alignment. Doctrine. Non-Alignment was a passive policy responding to global geopolitics. It failed to secure geopolitical weight for India nor economic benefits.

Modi Doctrine represents 'redoubled efforts to cultivate diverse network of partnerships. This strategy has enabled India to balance relations with Russia, Cina and the United States while diversifying partnerships to navigate an increasingly volatile world order'.

Elsewhere Modi Doctrine of Multi-alignment is defined as 'A pragmatic issue-based foreign policy strategy moving beyond Cold War Non-Alignment, to build diverse, parallel partnerships with multiple   global powers and blocs to maximize national interests, economic opportunities, and security, without formal exclusive alliances, allowing flexible responses'.

Multi-Alignment of Modi Doctrine is a proactive foreign policy strategy which in 2025 has added considerable geopolitical weightage to India and assisted India in securing the third largest global economy position. India in 2025 thus now cannot be ignored in global power calculus.

The Modi Doctrine does not focus on India as a swing state but on India emerging as a Major Power in the global power calculus.

The proof of this assertion is that today all the global Major Powers comprising United States, Russia and China are moulding transformative foreign policy approaches to India's new strategy. European Powers now view Indian policies independently of United States perspectives.

China too is adopting more conciliatory postures from outright hostility convinced after Dokalam 2018 and moreso Galwan Clash 2021 that India was no longer a 'strategic pushover' of Non-Alignment era.

As far as the Global South is concerned, India is increasingly looked upon as the preferred and natural leader.

In 2025, with Europe and NATO being sidelined by United States under President Trump in his second presidency along with Western Pacific long-standing Allies like Japan and South Korea, it is logical that all these Major Nations would see merit in the Modi Doctrine of "Multi-alignment."

Noticeably, it is apparent to all these Major Allies of the United States, is that like India it is possible and beneficial to maintain "balanced relationships" with the Major Powers without being typecasted into opposing blocs. Bandwidth then becomes available to keep National Interests foremost without subsuming them to the perspectives of the predominant partner.

Concluding, it would not be an over-statement to assert that India's foreign policy thrust of "Multi-alignment enshrined in the Modi Doctrine e will increasingly find favor and flavor as the preferred geopolitical choice in a multipolar world beset with unpredictability at every corner. 

INDIA'S CHINA POLICY SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY INDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS AND NOT TIED TO UNITED STATES COAT-TAILS

 Perceptionally, India's China-policy in the last 25 years emerges as tied to United States coattails in terms of 'China Threat' perceptions. India after OP SINDOOR decisive Pakistan military victory over Pakistan, (notwithstanding Pakistan's nuclear overhang), India needs to reset its China-policy reflecting its new military stature and economic might.

Notably, while China was aiding Pakistan with real-time operational intelligence during this War, China did not repeat its traditional propensity to issue military warning ultimatums to India in favor of Pakistan in distress.

Significantly, the 'China Threat' will "persist" in Indian threat perceptions, till resolution of the boundary dispute and China's reset of its Pakistan-policy. What has changed in 2025 is the new context added by India's military and economic rise.

Let it be highlighted initially itself is that India's military and economic rise have resulted from India's own inherent strengths and robust national security policies of the BJP-led PM Narendra Modi Government since 2014.

Ever since 2014, PM Modi has relentlessly pursued the strategy of significant increase of India's 'WAR PREPAREDNESS' and crafting a resurgent Indian economy. The results in 2025 are that India today is both a global geopolitical heavyweight and an economic giant.

China seems to be awakening to this reality.

The United States and Russia as major strategic partners of India 'may have' contributed only marginally to India's rise.

During the past 25 years China resorted to multifaceted attempts to contain India's military and economic rise. But after Dokalam Standoff in 2018 and the Galwan Military Clashes in 2021 Chinese perceptions underwent change, witnessing India's massive military mobilization in Eastern Ladakh.

The final blow to convince China was India's OP SINDOOR crippling strikes on Pakistan incapacitating Pakistan's offensive capabilities within two hours, despite Pakistan's China-origin military inventories. China should now be convinced that India's Regional Power capabilities stood proven.

China's strategic reality check on India in 2025 would indicate to China that its 'India Containment' policies were no longer valid and that China must adapt to "Manage India's Rise".

Contextually, what added more context to China's recent political outreaches to India is a worsening of China-US relations. 

It was China's growing belligerence earlier which pushed India to strategically embrace the United States. Ironically, in 2025, United States patently anti-Indian stances under President Trump 2.0 and his punitive Trade Tariffs against India because of the Russia-connection, will stimulate India to edge closer to normalization of its China-ties.

India's national security interests rest on two foreign policy determinants of national/military security and economic security.

On both of the above counts, India after much investment of strategic capital on United States and its Strategic Partnership, in 2025, faces the stark reality on whether it was worth it?

In terms   of the hovering 'China Threat' India's strategic partnership with United States has not imparted any added 'China Deterrence' in India's favor. United States continues to have misgivings on India's stress on its Strategic Autonomy postures.

In terms of India's economic security, United States trend of punitive tariffs policies on India to arrest India's economic rise and dictate its political preferences has been disappointing and shocking.

O both counts, United States "credibility' as a pivotal Strategic Partner of India has nosedived in 2025. 

India's foreign policy planners must be actively alert to this new reality and recalibrate both its US-policy and its China-policy.

It needs emphasis that United States China-policy has never been anchored or aligned to suit India's National Security interests. Many a times United States China-policy ran counter to India's National Security interests.

There were times when United States strategic convergences were aligned with China's strategy of building Pakistan's nuclear and missiles arsenal against India.

China hopefully by now would have realized its strategic follies to use Pakistan Army as its proxy bulwark against India in the Indian Subcontinent.

 India in 2025, with its current rising trajectories, and with United States having not proved a "Credible Strategic Partner" should strike the trajectory of its China-policy detached from United States' unpredictable China-policy formulations.

It needs to be highlighted from my past writings that the United States in terms of its China-policy operates on two planes. To bolster its Forward Military Presence in Japan and South Korea and to win over to its strategic orbit pivotal partners like India it "plays up and sensationalizes" the 'China Threat'.

When it comes to US-China policy formulations, the 'China Threat' is expediently forgotten or put aside for politically expedient policies, much to disappointment and chagrin of US Allies/Strategic Partners, for short-term transactional gains for United States.

Therefore, United States sermons on the 'China Threat' to India needs to factor-in this aspect when arriving on India perceptions of the 'Chian Threat'.

Concluding, emphasis must be laid on the stark reality that China can no longer indulge in political, military and economic coercion of India and nor of 'India Containment'. India too must recognize that India's strategic partnership with United States is not a strategically validated strong deterrent against China.

Asian stability and global security would be strengthened by China and India seeking strategic convergences and "stop being used by pitting one against the other" to serve United States strategic ends

PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH INTENSIFYING MILITARY TIES: INDIA'S RECOMMENDED COUNTER-STRATEGIES

Bangladesh ever since August 2024 with the ouster of then duly elected PM Sheikh Hasina by planned and calibrated widespread student riots generated by United States 'Deep State' agencies, has rapidly downslided from stable political and economic pro-India Nation to an unstable, volatile, and economically tottering highly Islamic 'Radicalized State'.

The major plank of the Yunus Administration since taking over is to stoke rabid anti-Indian hysteria, giving greater prominence to Islamic Jihadi outfits, encourage greater involvement of Pakistani Jihadi outfits with Bangladeshi counterparts and a significant intensification of military exchanges with Pakistan Army. 

In the runup to Sheikh Hasina's contrived ouster were enough reports that suggested that both United States and China were seeking a 'regime change' in Dhaka.

Nobel Laureate Mohd Yunus, with deep links to US aid-agencies and US NGOs was put in place as Interim Chief Adviser (read PM) to administer the country.

Caretaker PM Yunus has delayed Bangladesh Elections inordinately, presumably, as early elections in Bangladesh does not suit the geopolitical interests of his external political masters.

In the process, Bangladesh under Caretaker PM Yunus has evolved into a highly anti-India State, given wide access to Pakistan Army presence in Bangladesh. In tandem, Bangladesh is buying offensive military hardware from Turkey, yet another State inimical to India.

Hindu minorities are being brutally persecuted and Hindu Temples destroyed. All this under the watch of Nobel Laureate Yunus.

India cannot afford to ignore the geopolitical and military implications of Bangladesh's downslide, especially with growing involvement of Pakistan Army, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Politically unstable Bangladesh is a serious security risk for India's Northeastern States.

Greater security dangers are posed to Indian security by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI getting added footholds on borders with India's North East States to stoke disruptive operations against India

India must immediately put into place geopolitical, military and economic strategies before Bangladesh assumes "Monstrous Security Threat" proportions jeopardizing the security of India's Sikkim and Arunachal Borders with China. 

Geopolitically, India must make Pakistan's Western Frontiers militarily vulnerable by intensification of India's ties with the Afghan Taliban Government. Fortunately, this is in operation.

'Regime Change' option needs to be kept alive by India should April 2026 Elections throw-up an anti-Indian Government in Bangladesh. India's premier external agency RAW should now focus on more "Offensive Intelligence Operations". 

In tandem, India must work more proximately with Myanmar to "Heat-Up" Bangladesh's Eastern Borders to checkmate Bangladesh's anti-India adventurism.

In both of the above cases, India will run into geopolitical pressures from United States to desist. United States must be firmly told that India is following the American playlist.

Militarily, Interim PM Yunus has been making veiled threats about Siliguri Corridor and the vulnerability of India's North East being at the mercy of Bangladesh.

India needs to clip Bangladesh's wings by planning and military executing the slicing away of Bangladesh's Northernmost Rangpur Division. This lies astride the Siliguri Corridor. Occupation of Rangpur would enable adding considerable width to India's Siliguri Corridor.

Militarily, the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh should be put under sustained Indian military pressure to rein-in Mohd Yunus's adventuristic streaks.

'Economic Coercion' also needs to be applied and planned for with an ultimate economic blockade by land and sea as a final step. India has already stopped transshipment rights of Bangladesh exports through Indian ports.

'Weaponization of Waters' against Bangladesh also needs to be planned for as is being done in case of Pakistan.

In terms of India's Internal Security, strong National Security imperatives exist to divide West Bengal's Northern Districts astride the Siliguri Corridor into a Union Territory by adding the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Divisions to it.

Concluding, if India wants to emerge as the undisputed Reginal Power of the Indian Subcontinent, then India would need to take and show that India will not hesitate to take 'Hard Decisions' to safeguard its legitimate National Security requirements, including not tolerating external powers to create geopolitical instability in India's neighborhood.

 

SOUTH ASIA POWER DYNAMICS AND CHINA-PAKISTAN AXIS STRATEGIC FACTOR RELEVANCE 2025

South Asia power dynamics till 2025 were largely determined by the interplay of power rivalries between India and the China-Pakistan with United States thrown-in as an oscillating factor.

China's strong strategic and concubinage colonial hold over Pakistan Army as the 'controlling factor' of Pakistan's foreign policy was a consistent "constant" ever since 1962, arising from their mutual objective of applying 'strategic restraint' on India and its rise as the predominant regional power.

The South Asia Power Dynamics Template stands considerably changed in second half of 2025 with India unshackling its traditional concerns of China-Pakistan Axis coming in play forcefully.

India's Op SINDOOR decisive punitive strikes crippling Pakistan's offensive capabilities coupled with strikes on its major terrorist infrastructure, within the space of thirty minutes in May 2025 forced Pakistan Army to sue for peace changed South Asia power dynamics. China unlike in the past did not issue any military 'ultimatums' to India.

Notably, geopolitically and militarily strong India backed by its sizeable economic power crafted during 2014-25 period, under the Modi Government, felt emboldened to call Pakistan Army's bluff of Nuclear War retaliation coupled with Pakistan Army's over-reliance on China-Pakistan Axis being actively operationalized in the event of war with India.

Strategic Reality Check of South Asia power dynamics, in second half of 2025, backed by following indicators call into question the strategic relevance of China-Pakistan Axis to both China and Pakistan: (1) China-Pakistan Axis operationalization was restricted to China sharing real-time intelligence on Indian military operations (2) Pakistan militarily "Crippled" by India's decapacitating military strikes turned to United States for restraining India and not China (3) India had achieved all its war-aims within thirty minutes and much before United States could even decode what was happening and decide on any intervention decision (4) India in the run-up to Op SINDOOR launching had clearly indicated to United States its firm intentions.

Post-Op SINDOOR, geopolitical events in South Asia further buttressing India's predominance as the Regional Power in South Asia need enumerating (1) Afghanistan's Taliban Government moves strategically closer to India (2) Nepal's pro-Chinese Communist Government is swept out of power by popular upsurge (3) Sri Lanka pivots towards India (4) Maldives adopts India-friendly political moves.

When the above 'Strategic Reality Check' and South Asia geopolitical events are superimposed on ongoing violent political disturbances in Pakistan's Heartland, Pakistan's Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunawa provinces in revolt, and Pakistan in virtual war situations with Neighbors on both Western and Eastern Flanks, should not China be reviewing and recasting its South Asia policies template?  

China reviewing its policies lately can be read by joining the dots of the BRICS Tianjin Summit and some movement in political outreach to India. China needs to exhibit much more to accept India as the South Asia 'Reginal Power' and cede the Indian Subcontinent as India's natural 'Area of Influence'.

Concluding, one can assert that China cannot for long continue to cling to the strategic belief that Pakistan is a strategic asset for China and that the China-Pakistan Axis can restrain India's rise.

Contemporary unfolding geopolitical and economic realities, and Pakistan's potential fragmentation inevitability, will force China to abandon Pakistan.

UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FACE CHALLENGING TIMES SEPTEMBER 2025

The United States Armed Forces as the most powerful Armed Forces in the world, equipped with high-tech armaments and combat tested in war theaters all over the world, face challenging times ahead with the unfolding of US National Security Strategy 2025 (NSS2025 and the Quantico Address by President Trump and his Secretary of War Hegseth.

The US Armed Forces in end-2025 perceptionally face bigger challenges of political interference, in their time-tested professional ethos, far transcending the strategic challenges posed by China and Russia as major adversaries of the United States.

The stress currently being made out in Trump 2,0 Administration that the US Armed Forces need to be professionally enthused with the "Warrior Spirit" presumably arises from the abrupt withdrawal of US Armed Forces from Afghanistan.

It cannot be forgotten that US Armed Forces ABRUPT EXIT from Afghanistan was a political decision for which both Trump Administration 1.0 and Biden Administration can be called to account. It was the Trump 1.0 Administration which had opened negotiations with the Afghan Taliban at Doha, Qatar. 

United States failure in Afghanistan in its second intervention cannot be blamed on US Armed Forces professional competence, but as reflected in my extensive writings on Afghanistan, the failure was attributable to "Political Micromanagement by Washinton" of US military operations shackling Commanders and troops.

The NSS 2025 as reflected in my earlier essay spins US National Strategy on its head by lowering US 'threat perceptions' of China and Russia and giving primacy to fighting "Invasion from Within" in words of President Trump at Quantico. 

Geopolitical impact of NSS 2025 generated ripples globally as its major impact was on the credibility of United States as nett provider of global security and US commitments to its multilateral military alliances like NATO, bilateral Mutual Security Pacts like those with Japan and South Korea and strategic partnerships like India.

That is why I had titled my preceding post as the "United States as a Fading Superpower" and my analysis can be re-read for details of geopolitical impact.

However, what has created a storm in United States, both political and military, going by US electronic and print media critical reports is the Address by President Trump and his Secretary of War Hegseth on September 30, 2025.

The context of this storm goes back to the first few months of Trump Administration 2.0 in which 15-18 Generals of 'Three Star' and 'Four Star' resigned or made to resign by presidential directives. Reasons attributed in US media hinted at these Generals not attuned to Trump 2.0policies. 

The Quantico Meet saw over 800 senior military commanders above 'One Star' being unprecedently summoned from all over the world, to be addressed by President Trump and Secretary of War Hegseth on what perceptionally be termed as the "Trump Agenda" for the US Armed Forces with three more years to go.

Both the US and the Indian media have carried details of Quantico Meet and those will not be repeated here. What follows are major deductions that arise from official pronouncements made at the Meet.

Major issues, arising from the above, in terms of challenges likely to unfold for the US Armed Forces, are as follows:

• US Civil-Military Relations
• US Miliary Leadership Challenges
• US Armed Forces Heading for Politicization?
• US Armed Forces Morale
• US Armed Forces Deployment for Law & Order Duties in Major US Cities--Political Opposition Building-up

US Civil-Military Relations are headed for 'strenuous times' going by spate of Higher Military Hierarchy resignations, to be read as 'dismissals'. The warnings at Quantico that there is no scope for dissent with the Trump Agenda was implicitly indicated with the statement that such Commanders should resign or face dismissal. Certainly, elements of 'trust-cleavage' in Civil-Military are bound to set in.

US Senior Military Commanders will now be faced with daunting leadership challenges as to how to implement the Trump Agenda, more political than military, within the framework of existing overall ethos of the US Armed Forces.

US Armed Forces have distinctly remained   "Apolitical" sworn to defend the US Constitution. Going by the spate of dismissals of Generals and the call at Quantico that those who differ with the Trump Agenda should resign have led to fears that US Armed Forces are headed towards "Politicization"?

US Armed Forces perceptionally will be faced with serious "morale problems" both in the Military Hierarchy and Rank & File, generated by professional uncertainties arising from transformation of major US decades-long professional mindsets. 

 

In particular the 'evangelical' assertion by Secretary of War Hegseth could be disturbing for US Armed Forces:  "The era of politically correct, overly sensitive leadership ends right now.........strip away social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage that had infested our Department. RESIGN IF YOU DO NOT AGREE". 

US Armed Forces prime focus on China and Russia threats will not cease despite President Trump's directive to focus on 'the enemy within' and beefing-up of Northern Commands and Southern Command in Continental USA.

Further, President Trump's decision to unilaterally and unprecedently deploy US troops for maintenance of Law & Order duties in major Cities has met with stiff opposition and legal challenges from Governors of States. 

US Armed Forces will now have to shoulder this responsibility

In Conclusion, what is being discussed within United States is that the US Armed Forces have the resilience to ride out these challenging times. But the palpable fear is that professional damages that may accrue. may take "decades" to be set right.

US media reports that there was no applause at the Quantico Meet after address by President Trump and his Secretary of War----just stony silence of the US Military Hierarchy.

Meanwhile, what will be under minute scrutiny by Major Powers, more specifically, China and Russia, would be as to how the after-effects of NSS 2025 and the apex level assertions at Quantico Meet unfold and effect the 'Military Effectiveness' of the US Armed Forces.

CHINA'S STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE WITH INDIA DICTATE CHINESE 'RECAST' OF SOUTH ASIA POLICIES

The Tianjin Summit Declaration (September 01, 2025) saw the three Major Powers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), namely Russia-India-China, declaring their intention to strive for a Multipolar World Order with emphasis on security, economic and technological cooperation.

Globally, the geopolitical landscape in September 2025 stands severely disrupted by the strategic uncertainties spawned by US President Trump's unpredictable unilateralist policies obsessed with trying to recapture United States "Unipolar Moment".

US President Trump's fixative obsession of' 'Making America Great Again' (MAGA) inherently carries the seeds of confrontation as the evolving Multipolar World is no longer willing to concede to 'American Exceptionalism.

Contextually therefore, the salience of the Russia-India-CChina Trilateral stands "revived and needs re-inven ontextually therefore, the salience of the Russia-India- tion". While Russia and India enjoy strategic convergences and proximity, it is China which has to strive for 'Strategic Convergences & Strategic Proximity" with India by cementing Indian 'Strategic Trust".

China in September 2025, more than ever, geopolitically and strategically, needs "Sustainable Peace" with India, wherein the US President Trump perceives that China is a more potent threat to US National Secuity than Russia. 

US strategic formulations on China are likely to follow a two-prong strategy which would incorporate tactical 'China Appeasement policies and the second prong aimed at 'driving a wedge in Russia-China relations to weaken their strategic nexus.

The optics at Tianjin Summit provoked the United States to warn India not to strategically embrace China.

Strategic reality check would indicate that in the first decade and a half of 21st Century, it was China that pushed India into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States by its unrestrained military buildup of Pakistan including nuclear weaponization and long -range missiles.

It is now incumbent on China to draw back India from fully embracing the United States, and reinforcing the Tianjin Summit 'Spirit ' for a truly Multipolar World,

In September 2025, specifically after India's military blitzkrieg OP SINDOOR operations and despite China providing 'real-time 24x7 intelligence of Indian military movements', Pakistan lay militarily paralyzed and prostrate.

 China, in view of the above needs to answer the following questions to itself, namely: (1) Have China's strategies of 'containing India though proxy use of Pakistan as 'spoiler state' worked? (2) Does Pakistan have the potential even with exponential increase in Chinese military aid to effectively contain India in future? (3) Can China, even with Pakistan's (despite Pakistan's spasmodic dalliance propensity with United States) in tow face a 'Three Front War', should India discard multipolarity and tilt towards United States? 

The answers to the above questions for China would be a RESOUNDING 'NO'. Simply, because India is last 11 years of PM Modi era has surged into a strategic, military and economic geopolitical heavyweight acknowledged by Global Major Powers.

Concluding therefore, in light of the analysis above, overwhelming strategic imperatives exist for China to strive for "Sustainable Peace" with India, whose starting point, imperatives dictate, that China should "Recast" its Pakistan-centric Sout Asia policy formulations. 

China needs to recognize that China cannot succeed to achieve a Multipolar Word Order, without India at its side. Rusia realizes this reality it is China, that now has to adopt this path. Then only the 'Tianjin Declaration "spirit" would be meaningful prevail.

It is China's call now?

UNITED STATES-INDIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP 2025: "PAST PEREFECT, FUTURE IMPERFECT"

In mid-2025, the US-India Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership crafted laboriously for 30 years by bipartisan political support in both United States and India under different political dispensations stands washed away by the 'unpredictable but predictable' impulses of US President Trump 20. 

The US-India Strategic Partnership in September could be aptly termed as "Past Perfect, Future Imperfect".

President Trump's colossal blunder in castigating and imposing punitive tariffs on India mindless of the US strategic losses is akin to China stabbing Nehru in the back in 1962 for crusading for Communist China.

President Trump virtually stabbed Indian PM Narendra Modi who steered the US-India strategic Partnership to greater geopolitical and strategic heights.

India's 'National Psyche' stood greatly "singed" by China's betrayal of Indian trust. Likewise, in a matter of days India's 'National Psyche' stands "singed" by President Trump's betrayal of India's 'Strategic Trust' spanning 30 years.

Even past top US personages of previous US Administrations have bitterly criticized President Trump for this 'Himalayan Blunder' in jeopardizing the future of US-India Strategic Partnership due to personal pique and a bloated ego.

In terms of future perspectives, the US-India Strategic Partnership stands condemned to an "IMPERFECT FUTURE' even if the Trump Administration indulges in belated damage control. The broken pieces even if joined by strong epoxies by United States cannot hide the 'cracks though joined' of the Strategic Partnership edifice.

Geopolitically, and for reasons of Indian PM Modi's stress on "Multipolarity", India may not snap ties with United States, like it did with China. But to believe that US-India relations will revert to old format of Indian implicit trust in United States is a distant cry.

Concluding, it needs to be stressed that Modi's India 2025 is not the timid India of the Cold War era when India took refuge in 'Non-alignment' policy formulations. Modi's India 2025 is a Global "Geopolitical Heavyweight" and the World's third largest economy, whose Strategic Preferences may tilt the balance-of- power, either side it sways.

United States President Trump and his advisers need to reckon with this strategic reality. India in 2025 brooks no "political patronizing" from any quar

CHINA-INDIA RESET OF RELATIONS SEPTEMBER 2025: SHORT-TERM GEOPOLITICAL COMPELLANCE OR LONG-TERM STRATEGIC VISION?

Strategic convergence between China and India has perceptionally emerged in September 2025 emanating from US President Trump's 'Trade Wars' with China and President Trump's personalized 'Tariffs Terrorism' against India Post-Op SINDOOR decisive military victory over Pakistan in June 2025. 

China figures high in United States' Threat Perceptions for decades as a potent threat to US national interest and influence. But India for the last 25 years has figured in American policies as a 'Valued Pivotal Stategic Partner', until advent of Trump 2.0 Administration in 2025.

This only proves the old-age adage of international relations that in geopolitics 'There are no Permanent Friends or Foes, only National Interest. It did not take long for a personally piqued US President to jettison the US-India Strategic Partnership.

Geopolitical compellance, as first reaction, seems to have been the major factor with China taking the lead earlier this year to "Reset" China-India relations, with India too, responding positively to China's offer.

The critical question that policy makers and strategic analysts worldwide are tackling in September 2025, as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian PM Narendra Modi confabulate at SCO Tianjin Summit in China, is whether this is 'Short-term Geopolitical Compellance' or 'Long-Term Strategic Vision'?

Foreign policies of Nations do not operate in a geopolitical vacuum but greatly impelled and influenced by contemporary and unfolding geopolitical forces.

Accordingly, it is 'Short-term Geopolitical Compellance' arising from prevailing US hostility against China and India that obviously and logically have nudged China's and India's moves to objectively 'Reset' their relations at Tianjin.

However, it is pertinent to state that China's and India's moves to rest heir relations took birth at SCO Summit in Kazan, Russia in July 2024, and therefore predates the Trump Factor.

So that gives an indication that the 'Trump Factor' in 'China-India Reset' may have only been a catalyst to the process that President Xi Jinping and Indian PM Narendra Modi initiated at SCO Summit Kazan in July 2024.  

Analytically, therefore, one can concede that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian PM Narendra Modi, mindful of geopolitical forces at play and unfolding, recognized that 'Long Term Strategic Vision' dictated that China and India needed 'Redefine China-Indian Relations'.

Easier said than done, but then as history proves that major geopolitical turnarounds sprout from geopolitical compellance.

'China-India Reset' as a 'Long-Term Strategic Vision' places a heavier load on China's shoulders to restore the 'Strategic Trust' in India marred by China's sordid and acrimonious past of decades since 1962.

India in September 2025, has emerged as a 'Powerful Swing State' whose geopolitical preferences can alter the global balance-of-power. China is aware of this strategic reality and should therefore make concerted efforts to wean away India from the US strategic orbit to the Russia-India-China Orbit.

Concluding, to achieve all of the above, China needs to replace its existing policy mindsets which have impeded good-unneighborly relations with India,namely, (1) Multipolarity is applicable not only at global level but also at the Asia-level (2) India cannot be 'contained' by China by the likes of Pakistan and Bangladesh (2) Boundary dispute cannot continue as an 'Eternal Chinese Damocles Sword' over India (3) China and India in 2025 are 'Near Equals'  in virtually all domains. There is no bandwidth for 'Chinese Exceptionalism' in China-India relations. 

China with its marked adversarial postures that pushed India into a substantive Strategic Partnership with United States. China can now, singularly, cause a realignment of India by jettisoning the above mindsets. 

 

UNITED SATES STARES AT THE EROSION OF ITS SUPERPOWER STATUS IN 2025 DUE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP 2.0 POLICIES

The United States under President Trump 2.0 stares in 2025 at the erosion of its Superpower Status for the first time after the end of World War II which marked its rise to that status.

 American historians would mark 2025 as the inflexion point when the fall of America's imperial sway over global power-play stood hastened by President Trump's policies alienating US Allies and Strategic Partners for short term transactional economic gains.

The decline and fall of the imperial "American Empire" inevitably falls into the mould traced by the famous historian Paul Kennedy in his eminent voluminous Bok: "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers".

United States in 2025 exhibits all symptoms of 'The Rise and Fall of Great Powers'. It would be best to quote verbatim the major observations by Paul Kennedy on the back-cover of his Book which overs a survey from 1500-2000, to highlight in 2025 the reasons which could lead to diminution of United States status as a Superpower. Quotes and my comments thereon.

PAUL KENNEDY'S OBSERVATIONS 

"Although the United States is at present still in a class of its own economically and perhaps even militarily, it cannot avoid confronting the two great tests which challenge the longevity of every major power that occupies the 'number one' position in world affairs: whether, in the military/strategical realm, it can preserve a reasonable balance between the nation's perceived defense requirements and the means it possesses to maintain these commitments; and whether, as an intimately related point, it can preserve the technological and economic bases of its power from relative erosion in the face of the ever-shifting patterns of global production."

COMMENTS

The United States in 2025 global predominance geopolitically, strategically and economically is under siege by the contending rise of Russia and China. Emerging Powers like India with fastest global economic growth rates and a sizeable military machine backed by advanced technologies occupy 'Swing State' status.

Global opposition to United States predominance manifests itself in the emergence of the Russia-China Axis, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the possible revival of the Russia-India- China Trilateral.

PAUL KENNEDY'S OBSERVATIONS

"The test of American abilities will be greater because it, like imperial Spin around 1600 or the British Empire around 1900, is the inheritor of a vast array of strategical commitments which had been made decades earlier, when the nation's political, economic, and military capacity to influence world affairs seemed so much assured."

COMMENTS

In 2025, the United States political, economic and military capacity to influence global power-dynamics stands greatly reduced as compared to its Cold War overall predominance.

The United States today stands challenged not only by the Russia-China Axis, but also by Lesser Power like North Korea and Iran.

In 2025, perceptionally, the United States stands reduced to a 'Fading Superpower' whose President is forced to resort to 'Tariff Wars' bullying of global economies to offset glaring US Trade Deficits.

Perceptively again, the United States as a Superpower "shirks" from applying punitive Tariffs Strikes on Russia and China as applied on its Europea Allies, Pacific Allies, and pivotal Strategic Partners (so far) like India.

PAULKENNEDY'S CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS

In consequence, the United States now runs the risk, so familiar to historians of the rise and fall of previous Great Powers, of what might roughly be called 'imperial stretch': that is to say, in Washington must face the awkward and enduring fact that the sum total of the United States' global interests and obligations is nowadays far larger than the country's power to defend them all simultaneously".

COMMENTS

That the United States in 2025 is in the stage of "Imperial Overstretch" would b an understatement. The United States global and regional deployments of the Cold War era sill remain despite the shrinkage of its economic capacity to maintain them.

United States' hitherto for global strategic Managment rested on a system of vibrant and robust military alliances and a spiderweb of bilateral security treaties with its Pacific Allies. Japan and South Korea shouldered heavy costs of 'hosting US Forces.

President Trump, both in his earlier term, and in his preset incumbency, resorted to undue pressures on its NATO Alliance Nations and Pacific Allies for increased defense spending.

 The above obviously arising from United States incapacity and reluctance in 2025 to shoulder the financial burden of maintaining its global commitments of a Superpower.

Does this not reflect, in 2025, the "Erosion of its Superpower Status"? 

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONs

Twenty-five years have passed since Paul Kennedy gave the above valuable insights. Since then, the United States global predominance and its capacity to influence global power dynamics or impose its will on conflictual conflagrations stands greatly curtailed by rise of a multipolar world.

The United States managed to retain its unique Superpower predominance, though with some strain and hiccups, till the Biden Administration. United States diplomatic stances matched the formulations of its National Security Document.

Contentious issues amongst US Allies were sorted out discreetly by discreet diplomacy, outside the public glare, and thereby retaining the overall value and confidence in US global leadership.

In 2025, the blatant bluff and bluster scalding US Allies and Strategic Partners on Trade Tariffs by incumbent President Trump vocally in full public glare is wearing thin not only the trust in US global leadership but also misperceptions that the United States is being reduced toa 'TransactioalPower' minus long term vision.

'Making America Great Again' (MAGA), avowed aim of President Trump, cannot be achieved by alienating US Allies and Strategic Partners who have long contributed to United States retaining its Superpower status.

In the global geopolitical churn, the United States can Ill afford to lose its Allies and Strategic Partners. Options othr than the United States are open to them.

UNITED STATES PRESIDENT TRUMP PLAYING THE "PAKISTAN CARD" AGAINST INDIA IN 2025 FOREDOOMED TO FAILURE

US President Donald Trump perceptible playing the "Pakistan Card" against India in mid-2025 in complete reversal of Trump 1:0 policies (2016-20) are foredoomed to failure simply .because India today carries more geopolitical weightage globally and is not a strategic pushover like Pakistan.

Overlooked by President Trump and his policy establishment is that in the prevailing global geopolitical churning, it is the United States that critically needs India as a Strategic Partner and not India needing the United States.

India today with its geopolitical and economic weight can tilt the scales of the global Balance of Power by its strategic preferences

President Trump's reckless moves, therefore, to browbeat India to yield to US-demanded trade concessions risks the US-India Strategic Partnership laboriously crafted over last 25 years.

 President Trump's transactional approaches could spell the end of QUAD Security Initiative as besides India as the pivotal member, the other two nations, Japan and Australia are equally aggrieved by President Trump's impulsive actions.''

Regrettably, in his penchant for seeking publicity headlines, perceptionally, President Trump has overridden the saner vices in Washington not to antagonize India.

Perceptibly, there is an element of personal pique against Indian PM Modi for not conceding to President Trump's self-asserted claims that it was he who pressurized India and Pakistan during mid-2025 for a ceasefire after India's decisive cripplng of Pakistan's offensive capabilities. 

President Trump's ego and his Nobel Peace Prize aspirations stood bruised and hence his ordering 50% tariffs on Indian exports to USA with the fig leaf that it was intended to restrict India's purchase of Russian oil.

Duplicitous approach of President Trump is starkly evident as China buys more Russian oil than India does. But President Trump overlooking this fact has not penalized China but has extended the tariffs deadline imposition by another 90 days.

Coming to Pakistan, President Trump has noticeably displayed a "Pakistan-tilt" in his statements and deeds. This trend stands intensified after India refusing to concede that there was ' NO Third Party Mediation' for ceasefire and that it was Pakistan Army DGMO who initiated ceasefire request to Indian Army DGMO on the hotline. 

Rubbing into India's strategic sensitivities, President Trump  hosted a lunch for Pakistan Army Chie Asif Munir which was a departure from established protocol as this honor is reserved for Heads of State.

Rubbing India further, United  under President  Trump hosted a second visit by Pakistan Army Chief and a flurry of visits by Pakistan's military hierarchy. Increased military aid to Pakistan is in evidence.

The last time a US President displayed similar "Pakistan Tilt" policies arising out of personal pique was a fellow Republican President Nixon goaded by his NSA Heny Kissinger in 1971. What was the result? Nixon's outright military threats to India and ordering US aircraft carrier group led by USS ENTERPRISE could not subdue India.

Nixon's antagonistic policies against India and follow-up sanctions were disastrous for the United States national interests. Pakistan stood partitioned, Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation and United States lost out strategically on India till the turn of the Milennium.

Concluding, President Trump's "Tariff  Terrorism" against India and his pronounced 'Pakistan Tilt" are foredoomed to failure. India in the past when it was not a geopolitical heavyweight weathered many American economic sanctions and American "Pakistan Tilts".

In 2025, when India has emerged as a geopolitical and economic heavyweight in the global power-calculus, India cannot be expected to yield to US President Trump's piqued tantrums. India today demands respect on the strength of its power-credentials and will not take President Trump's bullying. 

If the United States does not carry out immediate course-corrections, it stands to lose India as a pivotal Strategic Partner, mark the end of US-India Stategic Partnership, and lead to unravelling of the QUAD, and also the emergence of BRICS solidly and potently working for "De-Dollarization".

RUSSIA-INDIA-CHINA TRILATERAL REVIVAL AS ADVOCATED BY RUSSIA & CHINA GEOPOLITICALLY AND STRATEGICALLY INADVISABLE FOR INDIA 2025

Russia and China whenever geopolitically cornered globally have displayed the propensity to actively advocate for revival of the Russia-India-China Trilateral as an optical geopolitical leverage against United States and the West.

In recent weeks, this has surfaced once again, with now China voicing that India should agree to Russian advocacy of the revival of the Russia-India-China Trilateral. This advocacy was last most active in the latter half of the 2000s when India was signing the US-India Civil Nuclear Deal and the US-India Strategic Partnership was becoming substantive.

In 2025, India has emerged in her own right as a Major Power in the global strategic calculus. India has amply exhibited its national power attributes and heading India towards 'Real Strategic Autonomy'. Incapacitating Pakistan's offensive capabilities with 'Deep Strikes' in Pakistan's Heartland during OP SINDOOR despite Pakistan's nuclear blackmail and China's overt support evidently support this assertion.

So, the question that comes to the fore is as to how India geopolitically and strategically benefits if it opts for revival of the Russia-India-China-Trilateral?

In my assessment, no geopolitical or strategic gains accrue to India in 2025 or thereafter by once again participating actively in a "Revived" Russia-India-China Trilateral.

Russia is bogged down in 2025 in a strategic quagmire of its own creation in the Ukraine War. China in my assessment i2025 is "besieged" geopolitically and increasingly internally with serious domestic upheaval in the offing.

More significantly, Russia and China figure "high" in the 'Threat Perceptions' of the United States, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Australia with which India has forged Strategic Partnerships.

In fact, in 2025, the global scene today presents two Major Powers Groups confronting each other, directly or by proxy, namely, United States & its Allies versus the Russia-China Axis.  

India should therefore in 2025, or even thereafter not be ensnared into a geopolitical swamp from which it would be difficult to wriggle out without significant geopolitical losses if it once again becomes active in Russia-India-China Trilateral.

Even in the heyday when India found the Russia-India-China Trilateral geopolitically an attractive proposition in past Indian political dispensations, decades ago, my writings then argued too that it was not in India's national interests to be part of such a Trilateral.

The Russia-India-China Trilateral, geometrically too, was never, and even now, a sound proposition for India.

Taking the Trilateral as a Geometrical Tringle, Russia sits at the top of the Triangle with India and China forming the two ends of the base of the Triangle. With India and China figuring as 'implacable enemies', the base of this Triangle inherently crumbles under its own contradictory adversarial weight. 

In the last two decades, can India forget the Chinese and Russian (under Chinese pressures) anti-Indian geopolitical gimmicks in South Asia against India? 

A Russia-China-Pakistan compact was very much visible on Afghanistan where both Russia and China sidelined India from dialogues on Afghanistan in Moscow forgetting that India had sizeable geopolitical stakes there.

A petulant Russia then also went on to supply military hardware to Pakistan to strategically discomfit India. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's statements then were certainly not India-friendly. President Putin's Special Advisor Kabulov was decidedly anti-Indian.

China's Compulsive Obsessive Disorder of "Downsizing India" geopolitically, militarily and now adding 'Economic Warfare" stands well documented in my past and recent writings. 

China's persistent record of supporting Pakistan's State-sponsored terrorism against India both by vetoing UN Resolutions censuring Pakistan or Pakistan Army affiliated Jihadi Groups reinforces China's postures as an 'Inveterate & Implacable Enemy of India'.

Does India need or seem to be a part of any 'Coalition' with Russia and China with their demonstrated record not only perceived as 'Disruptive Powers' globally, but also with convergent Russia-Chia Axis strategic aims at cross-purposes with India's National Interests?

Concluding, it needs to be reiterated that surely PM Narendra Modi and the Indian foreign policy establishment would be seized with the above factors and would resist any pressures to actively participate in a 'revived' Russia-India -China Trilateral.

Political 'tactical expediency' in short-term to soft-pedal this issue for access to Russian cheap oil and India securing its supply chains against China's 'Economic Warfare' disruptions are well -understandable.

CHINA'S RELENTLESS STRATEGIC DOWNSIZING OF INDIA NOW ADDS AN "ECONOMIC WARFARE" DIMENSION TO ITS ANTI-INDIA ARMORY: IMPLICATIONS

China having failed in its strategies to strategically downsize India for decades by devious geopolitical means and military coercion on India's borders with China Occupied Tibet has now desperately embarked on "Economic Warfare" to impede India's 'Power Rise'.

In the years since 2014, with the advent of PM Modi-led BJP Government, India has acquired significant geopolitical weightage. Adding to this is India's stellar 'War Preparedness' achieved since 2014, adding muscle to India's diplomacy and providing PM Modi the strength and will to counter the China-Pakistan Axis.

China's fixated obsession to impede India's rise as a Major Power on the global stage now finds expression in launching an all- out "Economic Warfare encompassing a wide domain of India's economic and trade activities.

The 'Trigger' for China's spurt in 'Economic Warfare" strategies against India, both direct and indirect, arises from two major economic factors. These are (1) India's fast-track economic progress towards emerging as global 'Third Largest Economy", and (2) India's emerging profile as a Global Manufacturing Hub' displacing China. 

China's global standings, with pretentions of being a Superpower, are severely dented with India's 'Ascendant Trajectory' on the global stage, taking the power sheen off China.

China's "Economic Warfare" against India has sharpened lately and encompasses (1) Recall of Chinese engineers involved in US/foreign companies projects in India (2) Stringent export restrictions selectively applied to Indian deals (3) Targeting India's needs for special fertilizers for agriculture (4) Restrictions on Indian imports from China of Rare Earths and magnets used in India's automobiles sector and space programs.

The above is only a brief list, and more selective restrictions against India are in the pipeline. China has reacted feverishly against items/entities which are driving Foreign Investors ay from China and relocate to India after initial lure of Vietnam.

The implications for India would be a temporary slowdown in some fields but not a total disruption. India seems to have prepared for this eventuality. Indian industry is already looking for alternative suppliers and the Modi Government is fast-tracking to fill the voids with self-reliant technologies/ supplies.

India also needs to adopt matching retaliatory "Economic Warfare" strategies against China with effect. These should include (1) No Chinese FDI in India and certainly not in electronics sector (2) Blanket ban on all Indian imports from China Imports from China be made selectively for short term (3) No purchase of indigenous defence items which have Chinese components (4) Service Sector not to be open for China and Chinese. No Chinese flights to India (5) Government should prohibit Indian tourists visiting China (6) Plug loopholes of Chinese good entering India through third countries or smuggling along land-borders with Nepal and Bangladesh.

Lastly, in tandem, India's millions-strong Netizens Army should organize a persistent and vocal "BOYCOTT CHINESE GOODS" by all Indians as patriotic duty.

INDIA'S 2025 GEOPOLITICAL IMPERATIVES TO PAUSE US-INDIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND QUAD SECURITY INITIATIVE

India's foreign policy cannot operate in frozen molds of past geopolitical constructs but be reset to keep pace with unfolding geopolitics. United States Trump 2.0 Administration transactional pivot to Pakistan in complete disregard of India's strategic sensitivities dictate geopolitical impetrative to press the "Pause Button" on US-India Strategic Partnership and the QUAD Security Initiative.

On Pakistan, US President Trump2.0 has given enough indicators in last five months of spinning past US strategic policies on its head. President Trump 2.0 "Sanctified Pakistan's State Sponsored Terrorism" against India and "Beatified Pakistan Army Chief as Patron Saint of Washington" during a White House lunch hosted for General Munir.

 Elected leaders of Pakistan were missing from the White House Lunch. Is President Trump 2.0 vying for a "Regime Change" in Pakistan?

On China, too, President Trump 2.0 has exhibited propensity to temporize with China's strategic inclinations in the pursuit of 'trade deals'.

On both counts stated above, President Trump2.0 has cavorted with India's implacable enemies which carry geopolitical and strategic costs for India.

It needs to be recalled that the underpinnings of the US-India Strategic Partnership spanning four US Presidents of different political dispositions was the joint convergence between the two Nations on the 'China Threat'.

Similarly, it was President Trump 1.0 who actively resurrected the dormant QUAD after eight years of dormancy.

Implicit for India in both Secuity Relationships was the hovering factor of the 'Pakistan Threat' being automatically taken care of by US-India convergences on the 'China Threat'.

In 2025, nothing has changed on the 'China Threat' persisting in threat perceptions of both United States and India. On the contrary, the 'China Threat' has assumed more alarming proportions.

President Trump 2.0 political strategies on China and Pakistan, going by his public utterances, betray that when the chips would be down, the United States Trump 2.0 Administration would give India a 'transactional pass'.

The hallmark of President Trump 2.0 is geopolitical signaling with strategic ambiguities and this applies to his current approaches to India.

The crucial question in mid-2025 is therefore as to whether to honor Indian commitments to past US Presidents on the US-India Strategic Partnership and the QUAD, no longer perceptionaly validated by President Trump 2.0 ongoing policy stances on Pakistan and China?

'It takes two to do a tango' is a well-known precept. When President Trump 2.0 wants to "Tango" with Pakistan and China, going by his political signaling, India should not foreclose its geopolitical options of being "frozen" in past commitments no longer appealing to President Trump 2.0

Concluding, India would be geopolitically and strategically wise in tapping the" Pause Button" on both the US-India Strategic Partnership and the QUAD.

US-INDIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP2.0: INDIAN STRATEGIC DENOUEMENT VISIBLY SETTING-IN 2025

US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership laboriously crafted over 25 years, with bipartisan support both in United States and India is visibly under strain in mid-2025, resulting from President Trump's insensitivity to Indian strategic sentiments, by pivoting back transactionally towards Pakistan, in middle of Indian OP SINDOOR overwhelming military success in decapitation of Pakistan. 

Perceptionally, India at large, its strategic community and its highly nationalistic Middle Class, are deeply incensed by President Trump's hyperbolic assertions on Pakistan, in wake of India's deep airstrikes against Pakistan's critical airbases including those noted as hosting Pakistan's nuclear weapons. 

Indian Government responses maintained dignified diplomatic silence letting TV visuals and media responses to project realities. However, sensing India's public opinion outrage at President Trump's invalidated assertions, PM Modi publicly asserted, without naming President Trump. that 'there was no third-party mediation.'

India at large was incensed when soon after India had struck Pakistan's nuclear strike bases, President Trump drew "Strategic Equivalence" between Pakistan and India. It was akin to President Trump drawing 'strategic equivalence between Israel and Hamas/Hezbollah. Preposterous!!!

President Trump did not stop there. When Pakistan sued for ceasefire, soon after Pak airbases hosting nuclear weapons were struck, President Trump to garner self-acclaim, asserted that it was 'he' who had pressurized Pakistan and India for a ceasefire. The facts, as the world could see, are otherwise.

This leads to the crucial question as to why President Trump "reversed gears" at height of OP SINDOOR of initial US support for India's right to strike at terror threats?

Joining the dots, two US 'transactional tactically political expediency" motivations led to President Trump's "reversing gears " in support of Pakistan. The first was geopolitical, and the second motive borne out by media reports with Pakistani visuals related to Trump family high-level business deals with Pakistan hierarchy.

United States aware that it had convergent aims with Israel to strike at Iran's nuclear weapons strike capabilities foresaw the military eventualities of possible use of Pakistan as a springboard for US military intervention in Iran should a wider conflict escalate in the Middle East.

President Trump's family business interests seem to have come into play as the second motive played out by Pakistan media visuals. This related to his son and son-in-law's visit to Pakistan, coincidental in timings, with India's OP SINDOOR operations, wherein the Trump family business groups signed a multi-million crypto-currency deal with Pakistan. Pakistan visuals showed the Trump family with Pakistan Army Chief General Munir and Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif.

Concluding, while India has kept its commitments to the US-India Strategic Partnership "intact", the United States credibility as a "Reliable Strategic Partner of India" has come under severe perceptional strain in India.

Strategic course-corrections imperatives to contain growing denouement in India lies with the United States, specifically with President Trump to dispel perceptional misgivings his assertions have generated.