Changing Contours of India’s Indo-Pacific Strategic Posture and Priorities Amid the U.S. Tariff Trap

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific has emerged as one of the most strategic and significant arenas of India’s foreign policy posture and priorities in recent years. The region represents a massive economic potential, encompassing major trade routes, resources, and growing markets. The region is also marred with various non-traditional security challenges, along with China’s expansionism and the great power rivalry between the United States (U.S.) and China. The recent imposition of steep and targeted tariffs by the U.S. on Indian goods in 2025 as a part of punitive measures against India’s Russian oil imports has induced a profound shift in India’s strategic posture. Being a major stakeholder and a potential leading power in the region, India is supposed to expedite its commitment to strategic autonomy, ensure regional balance, and promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific vision while ensuring a rule-based order in the region. Therefore, the paper aims at analysing the new contours of India’s foreign policy position amidst the growing turbulent India-U.S. relations. It further examines how India balances its regional ambitions by strengthening the India-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and diversifying its partnership with the European Union (EU), the strategic pragmatism displayed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025, and the reinforcement of India-Japan's partnership as a crucial technology and investment hedge in the Indo-Pacific. Thus, this paper indeed provides a strategic view of India’s shifted policy priorities in the Indo-Pacific.