Mumbai: Devotees gather at Bada Qabrastan to observe Shab-e-Barat

From 2012 to 2024, the United States quietly spent $3.4 trillion preparing for a militarised rivalry with China—more than the cost of two decades of war in Afghanistan. A new report from Brown University’s Costs of War project reveals how the Pentagon reshaped its strategy, budgets, and global focus around Beijing’s military rise without firing a single direct shot. Now U.S. officials say they will not repeat the 'mistakes' they believe helped China become a military and economic superpower. Washington is signaling a tougher, more conditional approach toward India—linking technology transfers, defense deals, and supply chains to stricter strategic alignment.Is this the beginning of a new era of managed partnerships and strategic competition?