India’s Escapism Since last year, clear signs have emerged of a fundamental shift in U.S. policy toward India. The indicators are difficult to ignore: the latest U.S. National Security Strategy barely mentions India; the U.S. deputy secretary of state declared from Indian soil that Washington would not allow India to grow into an economic rival; the U.S. assistant secretary of state stated that the principal objective of American policy in South Asia is to prevent any single power from dominating the subcontinent; and Washington recently dropped “Indo” from the name of its Indo-Pacific Command. These developments come amid the declining salience of the Quad and an apparent revival of the term “Asia-Pacific” at the expense of “Indo-Pacific.” The implication is increasingly difficult to dismiss. Washington no longer appears to view India’s rise as inherently beneficial to U.S. interests. Instead, it is beginning to see India as a potential economic and regional competitor whose power should be managed and constrained. U.S. interest in India is now largely focused on securing greater access to its vast market and gaining greater strategic access. The 50% punitive tariffs imposed on India last year, efforts to make India more dependent on U.S. or U.S.-aligned energy supplies, the lopsided trade framework agreement of February, and the looming bilateral trade deal all underscore these shifting U.S. priorities. Yet Prime Minister Modi appears unwilling to acknowledge the writing on the wall. This week he told President Trump that bilateral relations had “progressed significantly” since their last meeting in February 2025. In reality, the relationship has suffered a series of major setbacks during that period. Meanwhile, India’s foreign minister continues to speak of “deepening partnership across domains.” Rather than acknowledge the implications of Washington’s policy shift, the Modi administration continues to promote a narrative of deepening strategic convergence, thereby deflecting questions — and opposition attacks — about whether its assumptions regarding the U.S. have been overtaken by developments.