India, the United States, and the New Geopolitics of Asia

India sits at the center of Asia’s shifting power balance, shaping security, technology, and trade across the Indo-Pacific.

This course examines how India’s rise as both the world’s largest democracy and a major force in global politics is reshaping the geopolitics of Asia, particularly through its evolving relationship with the United States.

Over the past two decades, ties between the two countries have evolved from cautious engagement to strategic partnership.

As rivalry with China intensifies, including tensions along their disputed Himalayan border, that partnership is increasingly shaping regional security, contested supply chains, and competition over artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Yet India has long prized strategic autonomy, raising a central question: How far, and under what conditions, will India align with the United States? We’ll explore the history, strategic culture, and geographic realities shaping decision-making in New Delhi, and why India’s choices will help shape Asia’s future.