Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests; Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests
Analyze how India manages its relations with the United States and Russia in the context of the shifting global order, as well as the historical and present influences that have shaped India’s foreign policy approaches.
India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine crisis has been a major source of tension in the strategic cooperation between the United States and India in recent years. The tension between India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and the expectations of its Western partners has been brought to light by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s travel to Moscow in July 2024, despite warnings from the United States.
Challenges:
- Dispute over Russia between the United States and India: Given the current hostilities in Ukraine, the United States has expressed concern about India’s continued alliance with Russia.
- Despite Western sanctions against Moscow, India’s defence sales and energy cooperation with Russia continue. The Biden administration has asked India to re-assess these relations.
- This principle has guided India’s interactions with the United States and Russia, allowing it to balance its relationships without being drawn into alliances.
- Despite India’s efforts to diversify defence imports, Russia remains the main supplier.
- Strategic autonomy as a positive-sum game: India views its strategic autonomy not as a zero-sum game but as a positive-sum approach that benefits all parties.
Way forward:
- By actively participating in organizations such as BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and G20, India can promote a multipolar world order that respects its strategic autonomy.
- Diversifying defense partnerships: India should continue to diversify its defense partnerships beyond Russia to include more cooperation with Western countries, including the United States. This diversification could reduce dependence on any one country and improve India’s strategic flexibility.
- The United States and Russia can help India balance its strategic interests. By strengthening trade and investment ties, India can create a more interdependent relationship that benefits all stakeholders.
- India’s significant increase in crude oil imports from Russia and growth in trade with the United States.
- Promote strategic dialogue: India should initiate and engage in more strategic dialogues with the United States. Support the positive-sum approach: India can advance its strategic policies. Autonomy is not a zero-sum game but a positive-sum game from which all parties gets benefit.
- Strategic concerns can be discussed and resolved through the yearly summits between the leaders of Russia and India as well as the 2+2 talks with the United States.
- India can highlight the benefits of its independent foreign policy by emphasizing its role in stabilizing global energy markets and mediating international conflicts.
- Energy trade between India and Russia helps stabilize global oil prices, benefiting the global economy, including Western countries.
India’s drive for strategic autonomy, even if it sometimes causes friction with its Western partners, remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy.
By maintaining a balanced approach and collaborating with several global powers, India aims to address the complexities of the current international order while protecting its national interests.
Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/india-and-a-case-for-strategic-autonomy/article68418840.ece