India isn’t buying into US-led alliances—and there’s a strategic reason why. Dr. John Bruni and Prof. Salvatore Babones break down India’s refusal to play by American rules.
Why India Refuses to Join American-Led Military Alliances
Strategic Autonomy Over Alliance Dependency
Unlike Australia or Japan, India isn’t looking to become part of the U.S. military supply chain. Prof. Salvatore Babones explains that India’s entire defence doctrine is built on strategic autonomy—a determination to avoid being entangled in the geopolitical agendas of others.
This isn’t about being anti-American. It’s about keeping options open. India’s purchases of French Rafale jets, Russian missile systems, and Israeli tech aren’t betrayals—they’re safeguards.
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F-35 Fighter Jets? Not So Fast
American think tanks and defence contractors are desperate to get India into the F-35 program. But India sees the hidden strings. Joining the JSF program means surrendering part of its autonomy to U.S. tech and logistics chains—restrictions the Indian Defence Ministry is unlikely to tolerate.
Babones even warns: buying American gear could turn into a “strategic trap”, limiting how India engages with Russia or manages regional defence decisions.
India Is a Partner—Not a Sidekick
Washington expects allies. India offers cooperation—but on its terms. The U.S. sees India as a bulwark against China, but India’s vision is focused solely on defending its own borders and regional stability—not projecting power for someone else’s goals.
Babones argues the West needs to stop treating India like a junior player and start recognising it as an independent pole of power in a multipolar Indo-Pacific.
Why It Matters
India’s insistence on autonomy is redefining power dynamics in Asia. With the world’s biggest arms import budget, India holds leverage. Misjudging that could cost the West more than just defence contracts—it could cost regional influence.
