By Duvi Honig
Friday, 19 September 2025 04:13 PM EDT
In a recent and significant move on the global stage, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has aligned himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, making statements that criticize so-called “Trump bullying.” At first glance, this appears to signal a new power bloc, a defiant stance against Washington, D.C. However, this alliance is inherently unstable, built on insecure foundations and destined to collapse.
The truth is clear: authoritarian and communist regimes cannot be trusted—neither among themselves nor in their dealings with the global economy or international peace and stability. Their cooperation is transactional, fleeting, and driven by self-interest rather than mutual growth. History repeatedly demonstrates that when dictators and one-party states unite, it is not for collaboration but for exploitation.
The United States, despite its own challenges, has reemerged as a strong, dependable, and transparent global economic force under President Donald Trump’s efforts to reset the international economic landscape. This makes America the sole reliable partner in a world increasingly dominated by unstable alliances.
Tariffs as Insurance, Not Punishment
Critics often view Trump’s tariffs as burdensome. However, these levies are not punitive but serve as an insurance policy for access to the world’s largest consumer market, backed by the rule of law, enforceable contracts, and an economy that fosters partner growth. Nations engaging with the U.S. gain not just trade opportunities but also stability. No other country has invested more in uplifting its partners.
Postwar Europe, Japan, South Korea, and countless developing nations have risen from poverty to prosperity through access to American markets and investment. In contrast, China offers no such stability. It manipulates its currency, shields industries from competition, censors information, and creates dependency rather than independence. Beijing’s approach is consistently self-serving.
While America helped shape China into an economic powerhouse, the foundation remains false. There is no free market in China—only a tightly controlled system where the Communist Party dictates rules at will. No nation can rely on such an arrangement for genuine economic partnership.
This is why India’s recent alignment with authoritarian regimes is not only misguided but also a historic missed opportunity. For years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. manufacturers sought to reduce reliance on China. India was the obvious alternative: a vast democracy with a large workforce, strategic location, and potential to become the manufacturing hub of the free world. Instead of seizing this chance, India risks squandering it by fostering closer ties with Moscow and Beijing.
These alliances may yield short-term diplomatic gains but alienate the U.S.—the very economy that could propel India ahead of China in global influence and trade. If India aims to rise, it must look west, not east. Aligning with America, the world’s most reliable economic partner, would enable India to attract manufacturing, investment, and technology needed to become a new economic superpower.
America as the Only Reliable Partner
Ultimately, the world does not need self-serving regimes, fake markets, manipulated currencies, or authoritarian alliances. It requires reliability, stability, and transparency—qualities uniquely offered by the United States. With Trump restoring America’s economic credibility, the U.S. is positioned to be this anchor. Nations that deepen ties with America will thrive, while those chasing hollow promises from authoritarian partners will lag behind.
The current “theater” involving Modi, Putin, and Xi may generate headlines, but it is America that will shape the future of global prosperity. The choice for nations is clear: follow empty promises from authoritarian regimes or embrace America as the true ally for building a stronger, stable, and prosperous future.
