Signal India, ASEAN and Latin America hedge between the two powers

Summary

India pursues pragmatic, interest-driven strategies toward both powers under its traditional non-alignment and strategic autonomy, treating the rivalry as a chance to strengthen supply chains and internalise technology in strategic industries. It is deepening cooperation with the US in advanced industries such as space and AI and in security, while views on economic ties with China alternate between expansion and selective acceptance. ASEAN maintains multilateral, neutral diplomacy based on ASEAN centrality, but the second Trump administration's bilateral pressure is shaking that centrality and members are choosing different paths depending on their leanings. Tighter US rules on circumvention threaten ASEAN's role as a supply base for intermediate goods and for EV and battery materials. Latin America has expanded cooperation with both powers, but under Trump's second term friction with Washington over migration and tariffs is rising while China widens engagement through various platforms.