All Things Policy India Navigates The 'Impossible Trinity' of Diplomacy
Sep 1, 2025
Amit Kumar, a researcher at the Takshashila Institution, discusses India's complex foreign policy dilemmas and its 'impossible trinity'—navigating relationships with the US, China, and Russia. He delves into historical contexts, particularly the India-US ties post-nuclear deal, and the necessity of maintaining stable India-China relations amidst economic interdependence. Kumar also addresses diplomatic concessions to China as strategic moves for regional stability, highlighting the importance of a flexible approach in today's shifting geopolitical landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
India's Impossible Diplomatic Trinity
- India faces an "impossible trinity" among the US, China, and Russia where maximizing one relationship hurts the others.
- Amit Kumar argues New Delhi must balance ties because no single alignment can serve all strategic interests simultaneously.
Why The US Is A Pivotal Partner
- The US matters to India for geopolitics, trade, investment, and technology cooperation built since the 1990s.
- Amit Kumar highlights the US as a market, tech partner, and source of diaspora-driven talent and capital for India.
Why India Needs Stability With China
- Stability with China is necessary despite adversarial structural dynamics because China can destabilize India's development.
- Amit Kumar warns that border tensions and economic coercion can harm India's growth, so measured engagement matters.