Opinion | The United States : Friend of none, only interests

America is neither a permanent friend nor an enemy. It is a superpower that acts according to its interests. For India, the task is to identify where those interests align with ours, and where they don’t—and to act accordingly, without illusions.

We often hear that in global politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies—only permanent interests. But nowhere does this saying come alive more than when we look at the foreign policy of the United States. And as Indians, perhaps we need to remind ourselves of this truth every now and then, especially when we see shiny headlines about “strategic partnerships” and “shared values.” If we look back, history itself offers us enough reminders. Take Pakistan, for example—our immediate neighbour. In the 1950s and 60s, the United States treated Pakistan almost like a frontline ally. Washington poured in military aid, trained Pakistani officers, and even backed Pakistan diplomatically at critical times. All of this wasn’t because America had a special love for Pakistan or its people; it was simply because Pakistan was seen as useful in containing the Soviet Union.Then, decades later, when the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan happened, Pakistan again became America’s “most allied ally.” Billions of dollars of aid and weapons flowed into Pakistan to support the Afghan mujahideen. But once the Soviets withdrew and the Cold War ended, Washington quickly shifted its gaze elsewhere, and Pakistan was left to clean up the mess: radicalisation, terrorism, and internal instability.

As a Kashmiri, and as an Indian, I can see how these choices affected us too. The years of American aid to Pakistan didn’t just stop at its western border—they spilled over into Kashmir, fuelling militancy and unrest that we’re still struggling with in different ways. And yet, when Pakistan needed the U.S. most during its own crisis years, America either imposed sanctions or simply looked away.Even today, the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan remains transactional. Washington engages when it needs routes to Afghanistan or cooperation on counter-terrorism, and keeps its distance otherwise. It’s a reminder that for America, friendship always comes with a price tag—and it’s rarely about sentiment.Now let’s look at our own journey with the U.S. Over the past two decades, India has built what many call a “strategic partnership” with Washington. We’ve signed defence deals, engaged in military exercises, and cooperated on technology and counter-terrorism. Of course, there are benefits to this partnership: access to advanced defence equipment, intelligence sharing, and a certain global visibility. But here too, we must remember: America isn’t doing this out of affection for India.

The real driver, quite frankly, is China. As Beijing grows more assertive in the Indo-Pacific, Washington sees New Delhi as a natural counterweight. We fit into America’s broader strategic calculus—and that’s why they want us on their side. The day this calculus changes, the tone of friendship might change too.Remember the recent years when India bought the S-400 missile defence system from Russia? The U.S. threatened us with sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). Many in India were surprised: “How can a friend do this?” But that’s precisely the point—these aren’t emotional relationships. They’re built on interests, and the moment those interests clash, friendship takes a back seat.We saw something similar during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Back then, India intervened to help liberate what was then East Pakistan, stopping one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century. But America, under President Nixon, stood firmly with Pakistan—despite evidence of atrocities committed by the Pakistani army. Why? Because Pakistan was helping Nixon open diplomatic relations with China. Again, interests, not values, dictated policy.As Indians, it doesn’t mean we should reject cooperation with America. That would be short sighted. But what we should do is keep our eyes open. Build ties, yes. Strengthen trade, yes. But never assume that friendship means America will stand by us, come what may. Because if history teaches us anything, it’s that when American interests demand a pivot, they won’t hesitate to pivot—even at the cost of an old partner.

The same lesson applies when we see America’s sudden warmth towards other countries in our neighbourhood. If tomorrow Washington decides to court Islamabad again for its own strategic needs, it wouldn’t be surprising. And the same could happen with other powers in the region too.

Foreign policy, at its heart, is about self-interest. Every country, including ours, puts its interests first—and rightly so. The key is not to get carried away by the language of friendship, but to focus on the substance.As a Kashmiri, I’ve seen first-hand how great power politics can play out in very local, painful ways. Decisions taken thousands of miles away can fuel unrest in our valleys, shape narratives in our media, and even change lives overnight. So when we talk about India-U.S. relations—or any foreign relationship—it’s important to keep our feet on the ground.At the same time, India today is in a stronger position than before. Our economy is growing, our voice carries more weight in global forums, and our diplomatic choices are more respected. We don’t have to choose between East and West like during the Cold War. We can engage with America, Russia, Europe, and our Asian neighbours on our own terms. That is the real strength we should protect: strategic autonomy.

Let’s remember what history has shown us, again and again: America is neither a permanent friend nor an enemy. It is a superpower that acts according to its interests. For India, the task is to identify where those interests align with ours, and where they don’t—and to act accordingly, without illusions.

Author Adv.Tahir is a Kashmiri writer who reflects on politics, history, and the changing dynamics of South Asia from a ground-level perspective. He can be reached on advocatetahir2024@gmail.com