India and the World
An exploration of India's foreign policy, its strategic partnerships, and its role in global and regional politics.
India's foreign policy has undergone a significant transformation since the end of the Cold War. For decades, India's approach to the world was defined by the doctrine of {non_alignment}, a principled stance of not formally aligning with either the United States or the Soviet Union. However, the collapse of the USSR and the new unipolar reality prompted New Delhi to adopt a more pragmatic and multi-directional foreign policy.
A key pillar of this reorientation has been the , which was later upgraded to the "". Initially conceived in the early 1990s to integrate India's economy with the booming economies of Southeast Asia, it has since evolved into a much more strategic endeavor. "Act East" involves deepening security cooperation, promoting connectivity, and strengthening institutional ties with ASEAN and other East Asian powers like Japan and South Korea. This policy is crucial for India's economic growth and for managing the rise of China.
India's relationship with the {United_States} has transformed from "estranged democracies" to "strategic partners." The signing of the landmark India-US Civil Nuclear Deal in 2008 was a watershed moment, ending India's nuclear isolation and paving the way for deeper cooperation in defense, technology, and intelligence. This partnership is now a central element of India's foreign policy, driven by shared democratic values and common concerns about China's growing assertiveness. India is also a key member of the "Quad" (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), an informal strategic forum with the US, Japan, and Australia, aimed at ensuring a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
Despite this, India continues to pursue a policy of "strategic autonomy," balancing its ties with the West with its relationships with other powers. It remains an active member of forums like (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which are often seen as counterweights to Western-dominated institutions. This multi-alignment strategy allows India to maintain its relationships with countries like Russia, its traditional defense partner, while also building new partnerships.
Managing its neighborhood remains a primary challenge. The "" policy seeks to build friendly and mutually beneficial ties with South Asian neighbors. However, the relationship with {China} is complex and adversarial, marked by a long-standing border dispute, economic competition, and strategic rivalry in the Indian Ocean. Similarly, the relationship with {Pakistan} remains fraught with tension, centered on the issue of Kashmir and cross-border terrorism, which has rendered regional organizations like SAARC largely dysfunctional.
In the 21st century, India seeks to position itself as a "leading power" rather than just a "balancing power." It is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping, a vocal advocate for reforms in global governance institutions like the UN Security Council, and is increasingly using its "soft power" (culture, diaspora, developmental assistance) to enhance its global standing.