Chaos as opportunity: the United States and world order in India’s grand strategy

The world is in flux, both in terms of the changing global distribution of power and the declining commitment of the United States to the international order. This article argues that, unlike many other major powers, India is well positioned to benefit from the contemporary disorder. The U.S. has courted India as a strategic partner since the early 2000s, supporting India’s grand strategy of developing hard-power capabilities while addressing regional threats and eventually attaining great-power status. In return, India has supported Washington’s overarching goal of securing the Indo-Pacific region. Although significant challenges remain in the management of U.S.-India relations, the Trump presidency has on balance benefited India’s grand strategy. New Delhi views the decline of U.S. leadership in the international order – a phenomenon whose origins precede Trump – as an opportunity to play a leading global role. However, India’s predisposition toward strategic autonomy may complicate the process.