INDIA has been developing a diverse range of missile systems, including Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles and hypersonic cruise missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. This development and deployment exacerbate the security dilemmas of neighbouring states. Moreover, these advancements alarm major powers, as New Delhi seeks to safeguard its strategic autonomy in international geopolitics. Its balancing efforts recently prompted the US State and Treasury Departments to impose sanctions on 19 Indian companies and two Indian nationals for “enabling Russia’s prosecution of its illegal war.

During the last two decades, the Indo-US strategic partnership systemically evolved into the Indo-US threshold alliance. Despite increasing multidimensional cooperation, the Americans did not object to India’s military purchases, including S-400 missiles from Russia. Indian companies and Russian state-owned enterprises have been cooperating for a long time. Therefore, the recent sanctions against the Indian companies seem strange, especially when elected President Donald Trump’s cohorts are publicizing the continuity of the Indo-Pacific strategy.

Trump administration 2.0’s hardened approach against China would be one of the few policy areas that continue from Biden to Trump. Hence, the minilateral security group—Australia, India, Japan and the United........

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