More than a century ago, Vladimir Lenin described imperialism as the highest state of capitalism, an outcome of the latter’s decay. His analysis stands the test of time when we see a crisis-ridden capitalist order, which has failed to improve lives globally, resorting to desperate measures to ensure its survival.
The consolidation of right-wing and far-right political forces globally was accompanied by blaming regulations and diverting the popular anger against neoliberal policies to immigrants and minorities. The neoliberal order, as it failed, oscillated between right and centrist positions and failed to check the growth of the far-right. Now, the situation has worsened as there are signs of a global right-wing alliance, which is aggressive in its disdain for democratic norms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the US and his meeting with President Donald Trump gave hints of this consolidation.
PM Modi’s meeting with Trump has two kinds of outcomes for us. First, we can examine what his visit signified back home, before moving towards the implications at a global level. While the visit was marked by grand displays of bonhomie between Modi and Trump, beneath the glittering optics of joint statements and celebratory events, remain deep-seated issues that expose the exploitative nature of the current global order.
While Modi and his supporters back home have dubbed the visit a great triumph, Trump’s protectionist policies continue unabated. The Trump administration is trying to impose a series of tariffs and trade restrictions against India. These measures will harm Indian exports, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles and automobile parts. Further, Trump’s attempts at concentrating manufacturing in the US will be detrimental to Indian manufacturing. Despite these overtly aggressive trade practices, Modi has refrained from taking a strong stance or even publicly addressing the issue. This is the outcome of reducing diplomacy to handshakes and hugs.
One of the most glaring failures of Modi’s visit was his complete silence on the appalling treatment of Indian deportees by US authorities. Under the Trump administration’s immigration policies, hundreds of Indians — many of them skilled workers and asylum seekers — have been subjected to humiliating treatment. Reports of detainees being held in inhumane conditions, denied legal rights and deported in shackles have emerged, yet Modi chose not to raise these concerns during his meeting. By not standing up to Trump’s trade war and the gross human rights violations, Modi has demonstrated a troubling willingness to appease Washington.
Trump’s aggressive economic and foreign policies indicate a concerted effort to dismantle multilateral alliances like BRICS, which were conceived to stand up to US hegemony. Trump’s administration is threatening this coalition through economic coercion and diplomatic manoeuvring. By forcing trade deals that isolate BRICS members, slapping sanctions on nations that challenge US economic supremacy and using tariffs as a weapon, Trump is attempting to push the world towards a unipolar order dominated by the US.
While Modi and Trump’s interactions may seem like an exercise in diplomacy, they also signal the growing consolidation of global right-wing forces. It found clear expressions in the words of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni who sees a new “collaborative conservative movement” emerging globally with Trump, Argentine President Javier Milei, herself and PM Modi as global representatives. This alliance shares a common vision: Protectionism for capital, suppression of labour rights and a disdain for migrants and minorities. Championing the free movement of capital, these right-wing forces are aggressively restricting the mobility of labour. Trump’s anti-immigration policies, coupled with Modi’s silence on visa restrictions affecting Indian professionals, demonstrate a shared contempt for workers while enabling corporate profit-making.
If this right-wing coalition continues to strengthen, workers in the Global South will face shrinking job opportunities, and migrants will continue to be scapegoated. Moreover, right-wing leaders like Trump and Modi have shown little commitment to tackling climate change. Trump’s withdrawal from international climate agreements and Modi’s focus on pro-corporate environmental policies indicate that the interests of big business will always take precedence over sustainable development.
The world must look to a pro-people alternative that challenges exploitative capitalism and US-led imperialism. Countries in the Global South must strengthen regional cooperation, invest in worker-centric policies and reject neoliberal frameworks that serve Western economic interests at the expense of local development. A renewed focus on strengthening multilateral institutions such as BRICS, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and regional trade agreements outside US influence is necessary. Global trade policies must be restructured to prioritise fair labour practices, environmental protection and economic justice for developing nations.
The writer is General Secretary, Communist Party of India
