India’s growing economic and strategic weight has not translated into equal geopolitical influence, with several developments reshaping its position. Once viewed as a key US partner in countering China, New Delhi joined initiatives including the Quad and Indo-Pacific strategy. However, Washington’s reported shift towards strategic stability with Beijing has altered India’s relevance. Meanwhile, the May 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation demonstrated changing regional power dynamics, challenging assumptions about India’s military dominance in South Asia.