US Shocked India Doesn't Care About 'Rules-Based Order' Hypocrisy
Al Jazeera's latest installment of 'Can they balance?' wonders why India deepens economic ties with Russia despite Washington's 'pressure.' The mainstream narrative consistently frames such actions as a diplomatic tightrope walk, ignoring that nations, much like individuals, tend to act in their own perceived self-interest. The US, meanwhile, is still 'balancing' vast military aid to regimes with
abysmal human rights records (like the $3.8 billion annually to Israel, as documented by the Congressional Research Service) against its proclaimed democratic values. One might call it a rather unbalanced approach. Perhaps India, having witnessed the spectacular failure of the 'rules-based order' to prevent conflicts, address climate change, or even sanction allies, simply concluded that some
'friends' are just too expensive. The US preaches about sovereignty while dictating who other nations can trade with, then wonders why these nations aren't falling in line. It appears the 'cost' of US friendship is often an alliance with their chosen enemies, regardless of local geopolitics or economic necessity.