$3.4 trillion mistake with China: Why US will make India's rise far tougher

2026-03-16 - 12:22

The US has spent a staggering $3.4 trillion on a "militarised rivalry" with China since 2012, a figure dwarfing its Afghanistan war costs. This massive peacetime spending, driven by a strategic pivot to Asia, highlights Washington's determination to avoid repeating past "mistakes" with Beijing, particularly concerning technological transfers and economic engagement, as it now recalibrates its approach with India.