India's strategic autonomy requires careful consideration of geography, supply chains, and technology, especially in the context of evolving global politics. True autonomy involves the right to choose, not just choosing differently, and is built on hard capacities and capabilities. Purposeful engagement, rather than non-engagement, is key to gaining leverage. This approach enables deterrence by creating intricate dependencies, similar to how the US and China leverage control over chips and rare earths, respectively. India can learn from these dynamics to enhance its own strategic room.