India’s foreign policy is significantly shaped by the concepts of sovereignty and strategic autonomy, which enables it to make independent decisions, especially in foreign relations, which are free from external influences, RPS Bhadauria writes. The article was prepared specially for the 5th Central Asian Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club.
This approach allows India to pursue its national interests while engaging with multiple actors on the global stage, which is characterised by uncertainty, complexity, and the move towards a multipolar world order.
I wish to highlight a few factors, which have dictated the adoption of this approach by India.
Civilisational and Historical Influences: India’s foreign policy is deeply rooted in its civilisation, history and culture. Principles such as non-alignment, anti-colonialism, disarmament, and peace-making stem from its colonial past and the values of Vasudeva Kutumbakam, which means the “world is one family”.
Economic Interests: India’s foreign policy is driven primarily by its national aspirations and goals, with economic development, trade, energy security, and the security of Indian citizens as the primary objectives. India has set the goal of becoming a Developed Nation by 2047, when it celebrates 100 years of its independence. To achieve this, India seeks to enhance its strategic autonomy through economic sovereignty by balancing trade relationships, diversifying energy sources, and securing strategic resources in order to reduce dependency on any single nation or grouping.
Building National Capacity: A nation’s foreign policy is influenced by its military strength, economic development, and technological progress. Therefore, building Comprehensive National Power is necessary for India to exercise strategic autonomy.
Managing geo-political competition by forging Strategic Partnerships: India has shown a willingness to engage with world powers, even though they may be adversaries. Examples of this include participation in QUAD, BRICS, SCO and RIC, to name a few. This multi-alignment approach allows India to maintain its strategic autonomy while pursuing its national interests.
How is India exercising Strategic Autonomy? Balancing partnerships in a fragmented world poses many challenges, which requires very deft and imaginative handling. I will speak about how India has navigated these challenges so far, to achieve this balancing act.
Balancing the Great Power Competition between the US and China: India’s relationship with the United States has deepened significantly in recent years, driven by shared concerns over China’s growing assertiveness in the region. India’s strategic partnership with the USA is very broad based; in addition to defence cooperation, it includes iCET (cooperation in critical and emerging technologies) as well as joint work on trade, space, cybersecurity and education. However, India has been careful to avoid becoming a US ally; New Delhi has maintained an independent foreign policy and has refused to participate in any containment strategy directed against China.
Along with its deepening partnership with the USA, India has continued to engage with China, despite ongoing border tensions. While India has strengthened its military posture along the Line of Actual Control, it has also maintained diplomatic channels and participated in multilateral forums like BRICS, SCO and RIC, demonstrating its willingness to cooperate with China on issues of mutual interest.
Diversifying Partnerships: Recognizing the limitations of relying solely on the US or China, India has actively pursued a policy of diversifying its partnerships. This includes strengthening ties with countries in its immediate neighbourhood, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka by adopting the Neighbourhood First policy.
At the same time, India has deepened its engagement with other major powers like Russia, with which we have a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”. Both countries have regular 2+2 Dialogues (between the Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries) alongside the Summit-level talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin. Our other strategic partners include EU, Japan, and Australia.
Championing Multilateralism: India has consistently advocated for a rules-based international order and actively participates in multilateral institutions like the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, and G20.
Pursuing Economic Independence: India’s economic growth and development are crucial to its strategic autonomy. The “Make in India” initiative, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing, is a key component of this strategy.
India is actively pursuing free trade agreements with various countries, seeking to diversify its economic partnerships and reduce its reliance on any single market. This economic diversification allows it to pursue its own economic interests without being over-dependent on any particular country.
Developing Indigenous Capabilities: India has made significant strides in developing its own military and technological capabilities. This includes the development of fighter jets, ballistic missiles, and satellites.
By reducing its reliance on foreign arms imports, India can make independent decisions regarding its defence posture and avoid becoming entangled in the geopolitical agendas of major powers.
India’s growing space programme and advancements in artificial intelligence demonstrate its commitment to technological self-reliance, which is crucial for maintaining its strategic autonomy in the 21st century.
In practice, India’s strategic autonomy is evident in its foreign policy choices and is reflected in its participation in various international groupings, particularly the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This multifaceted engagement strategy underscores India’s pragmatic approach to foreign policy in an increasingly interconnected world.
How is India Navigating the Fractured World Order? President Putin said in the 2023 Valdai Discussion Club meeting that the old global world order is broken and at the 2024 meeting he said that we now live in an unpredictable world and new power centres are emerging. I will now delve into how India is navigating the fractured World Order as well as the emerging multipolar world.
Many see contradiction in India’s participation in groupings like QUAD, G20, SCO and BRICS. On the face of it, it appears to be true, but when we look at the nuanced position, which India has taken within these groupings, we can appreciate that India is acting in its national interests, based on the principle of strategic autonomy. Let me explain it.
The QUAD focuses on regional security, maritime cooperation, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, whereas the SCO emphasises regional connectivity, counterterrorism and economic cooperation. India’s engagement with the SCO allows it to maintain a dialogue with China, Russia and Central Asian countries, balancing its relationships with these major powers.
BRICS focuses on reforming global governance, enhancing economic cooperation among emerging economies, and providing an alternative to Western-dominated institutions and the dysfunctional dollar payment system. RIC is the core of BRICS and the SCO.
Moreover, BRICS facilitates economic collaboration through initiatives like the New Development Bank, which supports infrastructure projects and development financing. Enhanced intra-BRICS trade can also provide India with access to resources and markets that support its economic growth.
Moreover, India’s participation in BRICS allows it to advocate for the interests of developing nations, aligning with its broader vision of a multipolar world. This approach enhances India’s diplomatic leverage, enabling it to push for reforms in international financial institutions and the UN Security Council.
The expansion of BRICS to include oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran offers India opportunities for energy imports at favourable terms. This is crucial for India’s energy security strategy, which is also supported by its engagement with SCO members that focuses on regional connectivity and energy cooperation.
Conclusion
India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy is a complex and multifaceted endeavour. It involves balancing competing interests, forging diverse partnerships, championing multilateralism, pursuing economic independence, and developing indigenous capabilities. Recent examples demonstrate India’s adeptness at navigating the global chessboard, making independent decisions that serve its national interests while contributing to a more stable and multipolar world order.
As the global landscape continues to evolve, India’s commitment to strategic autonomy will remain a defining feature of its foreign policy, allowing it to play a more prominent role on the world stage while safeguarding its own interests and values.
