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Jeffrey Sachs, speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025, delivered a powerful critique of US foreign policy and urged India to embrace a leadership role in promoting global peace and sustainable development. His remarks centered on the erosion of international consensus, the dangers of US unilateralism, and the strategic imperative for India to avoid being manipulated in the US-China rivalry. Sachs painted a picture of a world teetering on the brink of further conflict, exacerbated by a US foreign policy driven by a neurosis of supremacy and a disregard for international norms. His analysis, while blunt, offered a compelling vision for India as a stabilizing force and a champion of multilateralism.
Sachs began by highlighting the remarkable achievement of the international community in adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. He lauded the consensus among 193 UN member states recognizing the urgent need for environmental action and a commitment to sustainable development. However, he lamented the fragility of this consensus, pointing to the US’s persistent “America First” approach as a major impediment. Sachs cited the US’s rejection of the phrase “peaceful coexistence” and its refusal to explicitly support sustainable development as evidence of its isolationist tendencies. He argued that the US’s pursuit of unilateral action, its disregard for international opinion, and its belief that it can “do what it wants, when it wants, where it wants, how it wants” undermine global cooperation and make the world a more dangerous place. This echoes a growing concern among international relations scholars about the decline of the liberal international order and the rise of great power competition, where unilateral actions and zero-sum thinking threaten to unravel decades of multilateral cooperation. Sachs implicitly critiques the realist school of thought, which emphasizes national interest and power politics, advocating instead for a more cooperative and rules-based international system.
Turning his attention to India, Sachs offered both praise and caution. He acknowledged India’s growing geopolitical importance and its potential to act as a counterweight to US hegemony. However, he warned against becoming a pawn in the US’s efforts to contain China. Sachs asserted that the US “wants to use India to beat up China” and that India should resist this temptation. He stressed that India is “too big for alliances” and should instead pursue an independent foreign policy based on its own national interests. Sachs’ advice reflects a nuanced understanding of India’s strategic position. While India shares concerns with the US about China’s growing assertiveness, it also has a long history of non-alignment and a desire to maintain good relations with all major powers. Sachs’ warning underscores the importance of strategic autonomy and the need for India to avoid being drawn into a zero-sum competition between the US and China. He is essentially advocating for a multi-alignment strategy where India maintains relationships with various powers based on specific interests rather than adhering to a rigid alliance structure. This is a complex challenge for Indian foreign policy, requiring careful balancing of competing interests and a clear understanding of its own strategic priorities.
Sachs then launched into a scathing critique of the Trump tariffs and the broader trend of “one-man rule” in the United States. He expressed alarm at the way in which President Trump was able to unilaterally change the world trade system through executive orders, bypassing Congress and ignoring established legal procedures. Sachs argued that this concentration of power in the hands of a single individual is a dangerous departure from the principles of checks and balances enshrined in the US Constitution. He described the situation in the US as “profoundly destabilised” and questioned whether the courts or Congress would be able to check the president’s overreach. His observations offer a stark warning about the erosion of democratic norms and the potential for authoritarianism to take root even in established democracies. He argues that Trump's actions are not only illegal but also pose a threat to the entire global order, as they undermine the rules-based system that has underpinned international trade and cooperation for decades. This highlights a broader trend of democratic backsliding in various parts of the world, where leaders are increasingly resorting to populist rhetoric and authoritarian tactics to consolidate power.
Delving into the psychological dimension of American foreign policy, Sachs argued that the US’s “neurosis” about being “number one forever” is a major driver of its aggressive behavior towards China. He claimed that the US “hates China” because it has surpassed the US in economic size and that the US will eventually resent India as well. Sachs warned that the American mindset is unable to accept the reality of a multipolar world, where other countries are also rising in prominence. He urged India not to be “pulled into” the US’s animosity towards China and to instead work with China to create a more peaceful and prosperous world. Sachs’ analysis underscores the importance of understanding the underlying motivations and anxieties that shape foreign policy decisions. He argues that the US’s obsession with maintaining its global dominance is not only unrealistic but also counterproductive, as it fuels conflict and undermines international cooperation. He advocates for a more humble and cooperative approach, where the US accepts its role as one of several major powers in a multipolar world. This requires a fundamental shift in mindset and a willingness to embrace a more inclusive and collaborative approach to global governance.
The conversation then shifted to the war in Ukraine, which Sachs described as a “terrible debacle” that the US “sadly walked into” through its policy of NATO enlargement. He argued that the US had ignored Russia’s repeated warnings against expanding NATO closer to its borders and that this ultimately led to the conflict. Sachs claimed that the war could have ended in 2022 if the US had not blocked a peace agreement that would have guaranteed Ukraine’s neutrality. He urged President Trump to publicly commit to ending NATO enlargement and to thereby pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Sachs’ analysis of the Ukraine war is controversial, as it places a significant portion of the blame on the US for its policy of NATO enlargement. While he acknowledges Russia’s aggression, he argues that the US’s actions created the conditions that made the war possible. He highlights the broken promises made to Soviet leaders in the early 1990s about NATO not expanding eastward and argues that the US has consistently ignored Russia’s legitimate security concerns. This perspective is not universally shared, and many argue that Russia bears sole responsibility for the war. However, Sachs’ analysis raises important questions about the role of NATO enlargement in escalating tensions with Russia and the potential for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
Sachs concluded by outlining a vision for India’s role in global peace. He urged India to be “friendly with China” and to seek China’s support for its bid to become the sixth permanent member of the UN Security Council. He argued that it “makes no sense” for the Security Council not to include India and that India’s presence would help to bring peace to the world. Sachs praised India’s “wonderful philosophy of peace” and its ability to “bring peace to the whole world.” He emphasized the importance of political solutions to conflicts and argued that wars are unnecessary and counterproductive. Sachs’ vision for India is ambitious, but it reflects the country’s growing geopolitical importance and its potential to act as a bridge between East and West. He believes that India can play a crucial role in promoting multilateralism, resolving conflicts peacefully, and building a more just and sustainable world. This requires a combination of strategic autonomy, diplomatic skill, and a commitment to the principles of peace and cooperation. India's unique cultural heritage and its growing economic and political power position it well to play this role on the global stage. He reiterated the importance of multipolarity, arguing that the US is no longer capable of leading the world and that a more balanced and inclusive global order is needed. He emphasized the importance of India and China working together to shape this new world order, emphasizing their combined demographic and economic weight.
Finally, Sachs addressed the issue of Taiwan, warning that if Taiwan believes the US will save it from China, “God help us.” He stated that the US could not save Taiwan and that a war between the US and China is the last thing the world needs. His position reflects a pragmatic view of the Taiwan issue, acknowledging the potential for conflict and emphasizing the need for peaceful resolution. He invoked Henry Kissinger’s adage, suggesting that while being an enemy of the US is dangerous, being a friend can be fatal, implying that over-reliance on US support could be detrimental to Taiwan's long-term security. This cautionary note underscores the complexities of the geopolitical landscape and the need for careful consideration of all potential consequences when navigating international relations.