Warming ties between India and China, signalled at a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, could significantly strengthen New Delhi's geopolitical standing as the global order shifts away from U.S. dominance. Analysts note that with Washington under President Donald Trump showing less interest in countering China or supporting partners like India — reflected even in the renaming of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command — India has growing incentive to pursue strategic autonomy and build relations with Eurasian powers. A genuine détente could allow India to consolidate its influence across South Asia, redirect military resources away from the Chinese border, and reconnect with Central Asia through overland routes, while China would gain credibility for any alternative world order by treating India as a fellow great power rather than a regional subordinate.