Ambuj Sahu
@DarthThunderous
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PhDing @IUPOLS @IUBloomington | Trained Engineer @IITDelhi | Tweets on 🇮🇳-🇨🇳-🇺🇸 | 知道一点儿汉语 | curieux en français |🪷 🇮🇳 🪷 | India First
New Delhi, India
Joined February 2015
In our latest, @brigarunsahgal and I argue that India-US relationship is often wrapped in comforting narratives that mask enduring divergences. We unpack three biggest myths (or rather "delusions") distorting policy discourse and strategic expectations.
nationalinterest.org
The US-India relationship suffers from false assumptions about bipartisan support, strategic altruism, and misunderstandings that hinder realistic cooperation and fuel mistrust amid diverging...
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RT @TrulyMonica: If during UPA rule FTAs were signed to just please a liberal lobby, Modi govt is signing FTAs that will actually benefit I….
firstpost.com
Once operational, this trading agreement is expected to boost India-UK bilateral trade from its current volume of $55 billion to $120 billion by 2030
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A wise senior friend reminded me this morning — even when things feel hopeless, we rise each day to uphold Dharma and keep its wheel turning. That in itself is hope. Upward and onward!.
Days like this are when I feel hopeless about Indian Foreign Policy.
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Why not send a construction party to repair the airbase at Rahim Yar Khan? @MEAIndia.
Breaking:. Dhaka plane crash:. India to send a team of burn-specialist Doctors & Nurses with necessary medical support to Dhaka to treat the victims.
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Days like this are when I feel hopeless about Indian Foreign Policy.
#BREAKING: India to send a team of burn-specialist Doctors & Nurses with necessary medical support to Dhaka shortly to treat the victims of the air crash in Bangladesh. They will make an assessment of the condition of patients with recommendation for further treatment and
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RT @heeney_luke: Academia must be the only industry where extremely high-skilled PhD students spend much of their time doing low value work….
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RT @priyankac19: A. Why are the cricketers wearing Jerseys with India logo if it is a private league, BCCI must challenge use of logo!.B. C….
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I hope that PM Modi is forthcoming and transparent in the Parliament, both about the losses taken and the damages done to Pakistan.
I hope govt realises the mess they’ve created for themselves. They allowed the significant strategic and military success that was Op Sindoor to be hijacked by needless hearsay. Hopefully they’ll make an authoritative statement in the parliament and put these rumours to rest.
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Modi and Trump are tough negotiators, wrestling for the last inch of trade concessions. Don’t mistake the heat for a fallout. "RIC revival" or “stop the war” buzz is tactical noise—classic game of chicken, not a shift in India–US fundamentals. A friendly fight. Stay sharp, India.
". We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. " Says US President Donald Trump .
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RT @prof_nithiya: Why are UN maps distorting India's boundaries?. UN agencies have repeatedly misrepresented India’s International borders,….
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(7/end) The problem isn’t the term “strategic altruism”—it’s the mindset it enables: one that excuses U.S. inconsistencies, overstates convergence, and underplays India’s agency. A mature partnership needs hard-heading realism, not comforting lullabies. Let's raise the bar!.
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(6/) Yes, the U.S. supported India during the China standoffs—but it crossed every red line in the recent India–Pakistan crisis. This has reinforced the general belief in America’s unreliability. It also proves why strategic altruism is a terrible lens to view India–US relations.
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(5/) China achieved double-digit growth not just because of rapid structural reforms under authoritarian rule, but also thanks to booming global demand for goods. When China rose, the world lacked a dominant manufacturer. Today, that's no longer the case.
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(4/) Hard to believe that FA editorial team missed this. Quick glance at Trump 2.0’s FP circle:.1. @USDPColby — called India a “model ally”. 2. @SecRubio — introduced a 2024 bill to give India NATO-like status on tech transfers. 3. @michaelgwaltz — dubbed India “critical partner”
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(3/) Under Trump 1.0 (Feb 2020), ties were elevated to a “Comp. Global Strategic Partnership.” India’s prioritized trade in Trump 2.0 is per America First. Shouldn't it qualify as strategic altruism? India also placed a huge Boeing order, for Biden’s 'Make it in America'.
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(2/) If “altruism” is strategic, then it is tautology—it explains everything and nothing. It romanticizes US policy as uniquely benevolent toward India—masking asymmetries, and ignoring mutual red lines. Anyway, the altruistic exercises and political support are never mentioned.
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With @brigarunsahgal, I've argued that “strategic altruism” is a delusion—one that has done more harm than good to India–U.S. relations. India has never been the centre of US strategy. See the data to clear this hype. (2/n)
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A FA piece urges India to show “strategic altruism” toward the U.S.—a term that doesn’t even exist in IR vocabulary. It’s a made-up phrase, crafted to eulogize India–U.S. relations in select DC circles. Worse, it rests on shaky, misleading facts. 🧵(1/n).
foreignaffairs.com
In a reversal, it’s time for New Delhi to be generous with Washington.
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Finally, someone said it! You can’t be “India First” and a Taiwan-huggers at once. Blunt truths:.1️⃣ Mimicking the West on Taiwan makes no sense—until TSMC builds a fab in India & Taipei backs India’s border claims at LAC. 2️⃣ If poking China is the goal, talk to Lhasa, not Taipei.
It might be a bitter pill to swallow for some, but India’s China policy will be made in Delhi, not Taipei, keeping in mind the interests of the Indian people, not the policy preferences of a select few.
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PM Modi's visit to China will blow off some steam from the shaky India-US relations post Op Sindoor. However, both China and India are biding time. We must be prepared for Chinese proxies in the region. And keep eyes on the Dalai Lama succession.
This would mean Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China for the upcoming SCO leaders' summit in Tianjin.
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Quick visit to the #StatueofUnity. Paid homage to Sardar Patel and pledged to always behold 'India first'. A stunning marvel—flawlessly executed. Lovely hospitality. Gujarat stands out as India’s most forward-looking state. And yes, Gujju civic sense is truly top tier. 🇮🇳💪
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