Your lack of relevancy in military affairs
First of all there is no military irrelevance that many people are trying to drum up. The claim rests on a false assumption—that U.S. economic engagement with a country is primarily driven by that country’s military relevance. In reality, American economic strategy and military partnerships often diverge rather than move in lockstep.
India’s economic importance to the U.S. is not being “downgraded”,it is being recalibrated around supply-chain resilience, market access, technology, and demographics. India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies, a critical alternative manufacturing base to China, and a massive consumer market—factors that drive economic relevance independent of military alignment.
On the military front, India is not irrelevant. The fact that India maintains strategic autonomy rather than acting as a treaty ally does not equate to irrelevance. It reflects a deliberate posture that the U.S has repeatedly accommodated in practice.
Historically, the U.S. maintains deep economic ties with many states that have limited or no military alignment with it—Vietnam, Saudi Arabia (economically), and even China at its peak—demonstrating that economic engagement follows capital flows, labour, technology, and markets, not simply military obedience.
If anything, the U.S. understands that over-militarising its relationship with India would be counterproductive. India’s value lies precisely in being a non-aligned but convergent power—one that stabilises the Indo-Pacific through its own interests, not as a proxy.
So the relationship is not being weakened by “military irrelevance.” It is evolving into a multipillar partnership where economic, technological, and strategic interests intersect—but are not hierarchically dependent on each other.
I don't think you have a choice,
It is not as of it is a dead end kind of situation and it is existential dilemma for us. It is just a geopolitical reality to which India has to adjust and play. If Munir can do it, why not Modi?
The point you are missing is, if America is able to get richer from New avenues, whatever they are, your relative economic importance could also diminish and therefore your biggest bargaining tip
A powerful America is not a threat to India compared to a waning one. Waning one might do crazy stuff to stay relevant. India has been in the wrong side of the US for majority of our existence. It has been only last 15 years or so that we have got closer strategically and economically.
However, it has been opposite for Pakistan. What has Pakistan been able to achieve? Nothing. Why is that?
Because, external factors aren’t as important as the internal ones. The internal governance plays a bigger role in development of a nation. Pakistan has reached where it is due to the leaders it had, with no foresight and strategic thinking. They always thought for immediate gratification and celebrated what appeared to be a win. Same thing turned out to be a poor decision when things panned out in a while.
India hasn’t been a world beater in this aspect, but better than Pakistan.
As far as economic importance of India goes, it isn’t going anywhere. India has gained a momentum that isn’t likely to stop with one bad US administration.
