India is not a US ally ... or is it? | GZERO World

India's "multilateral" approach was severely tested when it refused to explicitly condemn Russia.

If the United States and India were to ever make it Facebook official, their status would be: "It's Complicated." These two global behemoths may seem like close allies, especially judging by the warm welcome President Biden gave Prime Minister Modi during his White House visit in June, but in reality, they are anything but best friends.

During the Cold War era, India maintained a "strategically non-aligned" global status and it has tried to stay on the geopolitical fence since fall of the Soviet Union. But when Russia invaded Ukraine and Delhi refused to explicitly condemn Moscow, India's self-proclaimed "multilateral" approach was severely tested.

On the show this week, a deep dive into the nation that recently surpassed China to become the most populous country on earth. Ian is joined by award-winning broadcast journalist and Washington Post contributor Barkha Dutt to talk US-India relations, the state of democracy within India, and how the trauma of COVID has reshaped the country.

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[ekanth-]

Barkha says she is not a critic of Modi govt 🤣🤣🤣

[shumbi]

India is on India's side. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for anyone. It's not a pawn, but a pole.

[eliotanderson]

First time seeing burkha dutt being somewhat unbiased

[acrux]

Barkha in India is a left leaning journalist but it's nice to see Barkha taking a somewhat centrist or at least a centre left stance and nicely describing Indian views on USA.

[uppercrust]

I would consider India a US ally. But, like all other allies the US has, they will not agree with everything. France is the best example of this. Just like the US and all other countries in general, they will definitely look after their own interests first. However, there are many areas of cooperation and mutual interest the US and India have.

[leighneal]

Large countries don't need to be allies. The US, Russia, China and India have tremendous human resources. None of us need each other for defense. The US/India relationship is best defined as a strategic partnership and that is how it will remain. The US has more in common with India than Russia or China. Both nations are former colonies of Britian so we share a language and a memory of being dominated. Both nations jealously guard their independence, as they should.

[SM-unho]

India's democracy is the best democracy in the world, infact better than all the western democracies. Western democracies are very extreme and more of a war mongerers. India is a humble society which cares about humanity whereas western democracies only guided by their economic theories of greed, wars, selfishness, guns, violence, drugs, etc. Also there's less of family values in any of the western civilization as they only live for themselves. Wish i can have a debate as i have lived half my life in western civilization and the other half in India. Narendra modi is the best leader that india could ever had, maybe even better than Gandiji and Jawaharlal Nehru. Wish every indian state had the leader with the same vision as Modiji, India will rock.

[ontisalaga]

Wow ! Barkha being objective is fantastic to listen to. As a centrist Indian, I agree with all her points.

[devshetty]

What is wrong between elections? India has free press, open social media. Only thing monopoly of liberal is gone.

[syamalghosh]

India should maintain a cordial strategic relationship with all its neighbours, including China, and not depend on a far away arms merchant of repute whose only objective is to expand its market. And to that end this country has established over 800 bases in the world to ensure its business of being the largest arms dealer of the world. India should remain independent, neutral and not bend its knees to anyone, especially to any of the western powers.

[jhrusa]

India is self-sufficient, so they really don't need to take sides. Ironically, we can be even more self-sufficient if we want to be.

[archit]

Am I dreaming, is this really Barkha speaking all this?? I'm quite surprised

[Kun..]

Spot on about national elections. He’ll be elected again & again till he chooses not to. His image is what has separated him from all other Indian Prime Ministers( social media has helped in that)

[AS-lgbq]

Good to hear balanced views from Barkha. So rare coming from her but v refreshing

[SodiumSyndicate]

I am deeply concerned about the brutal genocide against Black, Hispanics, Muslims, Women in USA.

[praveer]

west and anti india forces try to portrait India as negative image by same minority right mainly Muslims coz no other community is radical ....which is totally political...
1. first Muslims are always victim even if you give them all the rights...they love this image to create chaos and use it to protect them and hide behind true victims.
no other community have problem only this community have ....even after they have their own muslim law board in a democratic country.. who denial countries law .

2. In India, Muslims are majority and equal // look india give too big parts to Muslims radical Bangladesh and Pakistan ...and some stay who are loyal for their identity expect some are still radical...it was in the religion it self.

3.this is made up trick by west and radical muslims to change the power of leadership.... muslim have their own LAW board where they don't accept indian main law in this democratic country where no other country has...given them to muslims.

[parjanyashukla]

"Our" dependency? Has she become a US citizen?

[abracadabra]

Barkha a journalist, columnist, activist, propagandist, and even a power broker (Radia tapes) but what she is not is a strategic analyst. So pls don't take her or her column seriously. India-US will be allies, but won't say so openly.

[williamaidoo]

Some people don't understand the Indian govt. very well, but if you look critcally at their foreign policy trends or objectives very well, you will see that Indians want the rest of the world to see them like China, the US. Russia, or the collective West. They want others to see them as masters of their own, like how the Russians or the United States see themselves.They don't want to pursue the interest of any country over their own.The West is going to have to deal with a more assertive India that pursues its own interest in the coming years as India grows militarily and economically.Russia already knows that, so they cooperate with Indians rather than asking Indians to allign themselves with Russians.The problem for Indians is that, they do not have the manufacturing capability or capacity like the U.S, Russia, ? EU or China.

[nait]

Rise of India is always good for the geopolitics and stability! Best of luck India!