US-Indian relations in a pickle, strained after Ukraine conflict

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US President Joe Biden met with Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on Monday. The meeting afterward in Washington will take place between the two countries' foreign and defense ministers, dubbed the 2+2 dialogue. 

Biden underlined that Washington and New Delhi share "common values and resilient democratic institutions" before the meeting. 

However, throughout the meeting, a large chunk of the time was invested in discussing the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Many are saying that no matter how much Washington emphasizes the strategic partnership with India, the differences between the two on their approach to the Ukraine conflict is the elephant in the room. It also does not change the fact that Washington, throughout the meeting, pressured India to condemn Russia. In fact, it was the theme of the meeting. 

Read more: Biden to Modi: Buying more Russian oil is not in India's interest

Recently, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said, "We, obviously, would prefer that India move away from their long-term history of non-alignment G7 partnership with Russia."

This angered people on the internet, particularly Indians, who commented, "India does not belong to the United States," and, "India wants the United States to stop aligning with any country. Will the United States listen?"

Other nations such as Japan have also been pressuring India to take action against Russia.

Over the past 2 years, the US and India have had close interactions, amid Washington's attempts to contain China in Asia. However, their "friendship" could not withstand the tough tides of the Ukraine war and thus the two are now at odds.

India has refused to participate in Washington's and Europe's sanctions against Russia. Furthermore, unlike a plethora of countries that have cut economic ties with Russia, India maintained it and, actually, increased Russian energy imports and helped keep the Russian ruble stable. 

Read more: Biden to Modi: Buying more Russian oil is not in India's interest

India does not follow the US' lead and has maintained independent diplomacy, embarrassing Washington. 

The Indian example is a live representation of the US' waning scope of coercion in the international arena, particularly in Asia. 

What would be more embarrassing for the US is that if it were to let Indo go, then the US' self-proclaimed fight against authoritarianism will be rendered self-defeating.