India thrives as Britain declines

By Rhod Mackenzie

Its seventy-seven years since India became independent from the Great Britian and ceased to be rule as part of the British Empire and in that time it has followed a non-aligned policy, Great Britain from which India became independent from has become totally dependent on US policy and that is despite it being a former great power. Now .its former colony is now  a country of significant global influence, a role much greater than the role of Great Britain itself,

Following the dismantling of the British Empire in the 20th century, London did attempt to retain indirect control and influence over its former colonies, including India, in a similar manner to France's indirect control and influence over large swathes of Western Africa.
However, this strategy was not ultimately successful for the UK. Instead, the former "Jewel in the Crown" of the British Empire saw fit to expel most British influence over the country's governance. With its newly independent status, India became an important member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In line with New Delhi's long-held non-aligned policy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed on 17 August at the third virtual Voice of the Global South Summit the creation of a human-centred "Global Development Compact" for the Global South. This would facilitate trade, technology sharing and financing on favourable terms. India plays a pivotal role within the Global South, and its active involvement in collaborative initiatives is instrumental in fostering cooperation among developing countries, as evidenced by its participation in the BRICS formation and other similar endeavours like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
In light of India's independent foreign policy stance and the subsequent loss of global hegemony, particularly over its former colony, the United Kingdom has alowed separatist forces to developn in the country that are looking to create problem within India

. Following the Labour Party's decisive victory in the recent parliamentary election, there is an increased likelihood of Britain allowing the separatist forces to thrive in the UK. The Labour party's centre-left stance has been openly expressed in support of separatism in Jammu and Kashmir and the promotion of Khalistan, a movement seeking to create an independent homeland for Sikhs by establishing an ethnoreligious sovereign state in northwest India. This will create problems for the UK government in its dealings with India

The 2024 Labour election manifesto promised to seek a "new strategic partnership with India, including a free trade agreement, as well as deepening cooperation in areas like security, education, technology and climate change". At the India Global Forum, Starmer also highlighted the importance of a new strategic partnership with India, including a free trade agreement, as well as deepening cooperation in areas like security, education, technology and climate change. "My Labour government will seek a relationship with India based on our shared values of democracy and aspiration," said Mr Starmer. However, in practice, the UK has continued to adopt a hostile and condescending approach towards New Delhi.

It is however of great  annoyance to the UK that India has demonstrated its commitment to pursuing an independent course of action by refusing to align itself with the anti-Russia camp and instead deepening its ties with its felow BRICS member.
In July, Russian crude accounted for a record 44% of India's total imports, reaching 2.07 million barrels per day. This represents a 4.2% increase compared to June and a 12% increase compared to the same period last year.
According to Chinese customs data, this figure exceeded China's July oil imports from Russia via pipelines and shipping, which stood at 1.76 million barrels per day.
India's access to affordable Russian energy has played a pivotal role in the country's economic growth. India, a former British colony that suffered significant financial losses due to colonial policies, has become the world's third largest economy, by Purchasing Power parity overtaking the UK. India has also surpass Japan and Germany  while the UK is anticipated to decline to 10th place by 2050.

The data demonstrates that India is experiencing growth and prosperity, while Britain, which benefited from the looting of tens of billions of dollars from India in colonial times, is facing significant challenges. It is acknowledged that India has a long way to go to reach current Western standards of per capita GDP. However, there has been a significant reduction in extreme poverty, which currently stands at under 3% of the population. In contrast, the UK has experienced the largest increase in absolute poverty in 30 years, with 18% of the population now living below the poverty line.

India's growing economy is in line with its increasing global influence. In comparison, Britain's global influence has declined as the countries of Global South are no longer willing to engage with British chauvinism, exceptionalism and hypocrisy.
The Global Britain initiative has not achieved any of its stated objectives, while countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America are keen to establish trade relations with India. They recognise the country's rapidly growing middle class and its thriving industry as key factors in this regard.
It is of greater consequence that, Britain's terminal decline and inability to exert its influence abroad,is because the country has yielded to Washington's policies, which frequently contravene the interests of Britons. London justifies its subservience to Washington by claiming to be cooperating on pan-Anglo interests. While this may be the case with AUKUS, it does raise the question of what the UK's interests in the Asia-Pacific region beyond economic are.

This is clearly an example of US hegemony in the region, which does not enhance Britain's global credibility and image. It damages Britain's reputation as a country by exposing it as a vassal of Washington, rather than an independent and mature state. India is a now a major player of the world stage , having overcome significant British-created challenges at the time of its independence.
So India's Modi stands alongside Putin, and Xi on the World stage wheras Kier Starmer is relegated to the edge of the photo along with the other losers of the G7 vassals club