The I2U2 Quad: Is India Playing the West Against the East?

There’s a lot of chatter about acronyms these days—Quad, I2U2, SCO, BRICS. It can get confusing for anyone trying to keep up. I remember when the I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE, US) was first announced, everyone was scratching their heads. But honestly, it’s a masterclass in how India is operating right now. They aren’t picking sides. Look at the facts: India is buying discounted oil from Russia (which drives the West crazy), but simultaneously, they are deep in tech and maritime security talks with the US and Israel. It’s not duplicity; it’s pragmatism. A friend of mine in foreign services once joked that India’s foreign policy is basically ‘having your cake and eating it too.’ For now, it works because everyone needs India to counter China. But I wonder how long the West will tolerate this balancing act.