As India accelerates its global trade partnerships, the long-awaited trade agreement with the United States remains elusive despite ongoing negotiations. According to a recent Newsweek report, India’s recent success with the UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) highlights its growing global economic clout—and the urgency for the US to act.

Sanjeev Sanyal, member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, told Newsweek, “We wish to engage with the world, including the West, on equal terms. We have our interests, just as the West has theirs.”

The India-UK trade deal, finalized after three years of negotiations, is being hailed not only for its economic significance but also for its geopolitical message. UK MP Bob Blackman noted that the deal reflects a changing view of global power dynamics and partnership.

Meanwhile, strategic experts in the US warn that delays in the India-US trade pact could weaken Washington’s position. Lisa Curtis, director at the Center for a New American Security, said the US should consider trade-offs to strengthen strategic ties with India. “India is not desperate enough to open its agricultural sector just for a US deal,” she noted.

India’s recent decision to resume tourist visas for Chinese citizens, after a five-year pause, and diplomatic engagements with China, further underscore its positioning as a “global swing power,” the report added.

As India deepens ties with major economies, the US risks losing ground in South Asia’s emerging trade architecture. Observers say it’s time for Washington to move faster or risk falling behind in securing a strategic economic ally.