BS EDIT: Withdrawing to the West: US defence strategy raises concern

By Business StandardPublished On Jan 30, 2026

A strategic shift, clearly stated

The US defence strategy signals a pullback from global security roles toward domestic and hemispheric priorities

From global guarantor to inward focus

Allies are expected to manage their own defence as Washington refocuses on internal concerns

China policy by implication, not engagement

China is addressed indirectly, relying on deterrence rather than sustained engagement

Asia faces growing uncertainty

The absence of clarity on Taiwan weakens confidence among East Asian allies

Europe adjusts, reluctantly

European states are boosting defence output, though capacity gains will take time

India confronts a new reality

For India, the risk is no longer hostility, but strategic indifference from Washington