Amit's Blog

India’s Position Amid the Russian-Chinese Axis and U.S. Security Dynamics   India, with a $86.1 billion defense budget (2.4% of GDP, 2024) and a $3.9 trillion economy (nominal GDP, 2024), is a pivotal player in a multipolar world shaped by the Russian-Chinese axis and U.S. security dynamics. Benefiting from U.S. alignment through QUAD, India balances China’s $314 billion (1.7% GDP) and Russia’s $149 billion (7.1% GDP) military spending, while navigating economic ties with both (China: $136 billion trade; Russia: $65 billion). Its strategic autonomy, bolstered by Russian arms (30% of arsenal) and U.S. partnerships, positions India as a regional counterweight in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and Indian Ocean. However, China’s economic leverage ($200 billion in regional trade) and Russia’s energy deals challenge India’s neutrality. This note explores India’s economic and geopolitical role across multiple theaters, its vulnerabilities to the axis, and implications for a U.S. North...

India’s Position in a Multipolar World India, with a $86.1 billion defense budget (2.4% of GDP, 2024) and a $3.9 trillion economy (nominal GDP, 2024), is a pivotal player in a multipolar world shaped by the Russian-Chinese axis and U.S. security dynamics. Benefiting from U.S. alignment through QUAD, India balances China’s $314 billion (1.7% GDP) and Russia’s $149 billion (7.1% GDP) military spending, while navigating economic ties with both (China: $136 billion trade; Russia: $65 billion). Its strategic autonomy, bolstered by Russian arms (30% of arsenal) and U.S. partnerships, positions India as a regional counterweight in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and Indian Ocean. However, China’s economic leverage ($200 billion in regional trade) and Russia’s energy deals challenge India’s neutrality. This analysis explores India’s economic and geopolitical role across multiple theaters, its vulnerabilities to the axis, and implications for a U.S. North American alliance doctrine, concluding w...

Understanding Soft Power in Global Influence   Soft power, coined by Joseph Nye, is a nation's ability to influence others through attraction rather than coercion. It stems from a country's culture, political values, and foreign policy legitimacy. While distinct, soft power isn't entirely independent; a nation's economic and military might often provide a credible foundation, resources for cultural diplomacy, and contribute to an aspirational image. However, soft power also operates autonomously through intrinsic cultural appeal, universal values, and non-state actors. The effective combination of both hard and soft power is known as "smart power," suggesting a complex, interdependent relationship rather than strict independence. The assertion that soft power is " something that flows out of hard economic or military power" and "doesn't seem to be an independent variable" touches upon a highly complex and often debated aspect of interna...