| | FEBRUARY 202519accompanied by his three children - X, Strider, and Azure - and Neuralink director Shivon Zilis. Musk gifted PM Modi a Starship hexagonal heatshield tile, while the latter gifted his children classic Indian books like Panchtantra and 'Crescent Moon' by Rabindranath Tagore.The topic of discussion was enhancing cooperation between US and Indian organizations in the areas of innovation, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and sustainable development. Musk has long wished for his Starlink satellite broadband service to enter the Indian market. Musk has previously referred to himself as a `fan of Modi.' But regulatory obstacles, security worries, and resistance from domestic telecom behemoths like Reliance Jio, owned by Mukesh Ambani, have delayed its rollout.Long-Term Uncertainty with ChinaThere are still long-term risks associated with the India­US relationship stemming from differing expectations. Modi's trip to the US takes place against a backdrop of significant recent diplomatic efforts between India and Western nations that underscore India's market potential. However, an important strategic element of the US relationship is tied to the goal of positioning India as a counterbalance to China. Many proponents of a tough stance on China during the Trump administration also view India positively. The `China factor' is also apparent in technology, a crucial area of collaboration between India and the West, and a vital competitive sphere against China. The US, EU, and UK have all increased their engagement with India in this sector in recent years. Nevertheless, there is a fundamental misconception regarding India's viability as an alternative to China. India does not possess the manufacturing capacity of China and remains significantly reliant on it for components and raw materials in supply chains.Despite their challenging relationship, China is one of India's primary trade partners, and India continues to depend heavily on China in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals and solar power. This reliance undermines the idea that India is a primary beneficiary of efforts to diversify supply chains away from China. Furthermore, there are constraints on how integrally India can intertwine itself with Western technological frameworks due to its relationships with nations like Russia and Iran. This situation will impose limitations on technology transfers and joint manufacturing, in addition to stringent end-user requirements.These developments reveal a degree of irrational optimism in the way the US and the West generally perceive India. Beyond India's supply-chain dependence on China, New Delhi's longstanding commitment to strategic autonomy in its foreign policy will leave it wary of any initiatives that resemble a military alliance. For instance, this will generate uncertainty about India's potential role in any US-China confrontation over Taiwan. INDIA'S EXTENSIVE IT-TRAINED WORKFORCE AND DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM HAVE POSITIONED IT AS A LEADER IN AREAS SUCH AS CHIP DESIGN & DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. NEW DELHI IS ALSO ATTEMPTING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE RECENT CONCERNS REGARDING CHINA'S DEEPSEEK PLATFORM TO BOLSTER ITS OWN AI CREDENTIALS
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