Indian elites and policymakers are grappling with uncertainty following Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency for a second term. Analysts note that while Indian diplomats traditionally maintain a cool, transactional approach to international relations, Trump's unpredictability and unbound style in his second term have unsettled this stance. There is no consensus among Indian business and policy elites on whether to pursue economic decoupling from China, complicating strategic calculations amid rising regional tensions. The 1962 Sino-Indian war and Pakistan's close alliance with China, including heavy military aid and investments, continue to influence regional dynamics. Renewed U.S. security involvement with Pakistan could empower Pakistan's military, potentially shifting the balance of power in the region. India seeks a delicate balance by improving ties with China while imposing strategic precautions, such as new energy investment terms requiring technology transfer and localization. The recent conflict between India and Pakistan marked the first use of advanced Chinese fighters and missiles against Western and Russian military technology, drawing particular interest from the U.S. and its allies regarding the conflict's outcomes. Experts emphasize that the Trump administration's primary international goal is dominance, challenging India's previous experience with U.S. administrations that practiced strategic altruism. Indian strategists debate the risks of relying on a U.S. return to moderation in 2028 versus the costs of strategic estrangement. At the global level, emerging economies like India are playing an increasingly important role, prompting the G7 to balance internal cohesion with deeper integration of these countries.