The Eagle, the Dragon and India’s Strategic Space: Who Decides the Next World Order?
Why building national power, not choosing sides, may be India’s smartest move.
In brief
Following the recent Trump-Xi summit, a question is being asked in India: could Washington and Beijing strike convenient bargains that shape global decisions while other countries, India included, simply adjust? The author, Lt. Gen. DP Pandey (Retd), says a full “G2 world” is premature. The two powers are too deeply divided on trade, technology, Taiwan, Iran, Russia and the Indo-Pacific to become partners. But they can cooperate where interests overlap and compete elsewhere, and everyone else will feel the effects.
The piece argues that the US and China are both hugely powerful but very different. The US relies on open enterprise and its appeal as a destination for talent. China combines state direction and long-term planning with global trade, and it holds real leverage through manufacturing and critical minerals. Neither is a clear winner, and their relative strengths keep shifting.
Get Your Copy of Snow Leopards of Gurez: The Prisoner and the Spy Who Exposed Pakistan’s Kargil Plot
For India, the author says, the right question is not whether it has been sidelined, but what it must build so that no US-China arrangement can dictate its choices. Strategic autonomy is not equidistance or hostility toward either country. It means having the capability and diplomatic room to act on Indian interests. India cannot match China across the board soon, so it should build on its own strengths: its young population, entrepreneurship, democratic institutions and geography. Priorities include manufacturing, education, infrastructure, indigenous defence production, critical technologies and energy security, backed by long-term institutional thinking.
The conclusion is that India should aim to be strong enough that China cannot ignore it and the US cannot take it for granted.
Lt Gen Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd)
Former Corps Commander, Chinar Corps | DG Territorial Army | Director of Military Intelligence | Commandant, Army War College
You May Also Like to Watch
Disclaimer
This post is a brief summary of an opinion article originally published by The Week (theweek.in) on 29 September 2026, written by Lt. Gen. DP Pandey (Retd). All views expressed belong solely to the original author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this website, its owners or its team. This summary is shared for informational and educational purposes only and does not replace the original article. All rights to the original content remain with The Week and the author. Please read the full article at the source link.
Source line to place under the post: https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/2026/09/29/opinion-the-eagle-the-dragon-and-indias-strategic-space-a-g2-world-or-a-world-of-great-power-bargains.html