India’s stature in
global politics has grown significantly under the PM Modi’s Government, and a
new assertive India has become an important stakeholder in international
geopolitics.
With a growing
economy, India is today attracting interest from countries worldwide looking to
strengthen economic and strategic ties. It also helps that more than 65% of
India’s population is below 35 years, making it one of the youngest nations and
promising long-term prospects for growth and economic opportunities.
Having started late in
the geopolitical race, India effectively opened up to the outside World only after
1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Before its fall, Soviet Union was
India’s primary defence and trading partner and the mainstay of its foreign
policy.
In its early years of
Independence, India did not have enough national power to influence geopolitics
outside the South Asia region. It had the challenge to overcome its severe
political, social and economic stress and degradation, after two centuries of
British rule.
The fall of the Soviet
Union, the Gulf War of 1990–91 spiked up oil
prices spikes and reduced home remittances from Indians overseas in the Middle
East. At the time, India faced the prospect of defaulting on its loans and
sought assistance from the World Bank and IMF. To secure the money from IMF,
India had to introduce major reforms like market deregulation, increased
foreign direct investment, and liberalisation.
With
the end of the Cold War era, India gradually shifted away from the Soviet
influence and liberalized its economy, India had to overhaul its foreign policy
altogether.
The
shift in India’s Foreign policy and geopolitical interests has been most
visible after the Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014. India
pursues its independent foreign policy and international engagement based on
national interest, to expedite economic growth and expand defense capabilities.
While
India is witnessing phenomenal growth in global politics, there is also a rapid
rise of anti-India regimes in its neighbourhood. India has to delicately
balance its global, regional, and local aspirations.
For
India, its geopolitical objective is to India has to balance its security and
economic alliances and groupings in the world power structure. Given India’s
complex bilateral relations and history, India’s needs to
address its geopolitical strategies at three different layers:
At the Global Level
At the Global level,
India plays for multi-polarization of international power structure. After the
post war era, World power structure was Bipolar with US and USSR vying for the
maximum global influence and lasted through the Cold War period. After the collapse
of the Soviet Union (USSR) in early 1990s, the US emerged as the sole superpower
with US leading a Unipolar power structure.
However, after the global
financial crisis in 2008, a complex multi-polarity has emerged in the
international power structure with China emerging as a strong competition to
the US. The rise of multiple power blocs in the form of EU, ASEAN, Russia,
Japan, India, BRICS, IBSA, SCO, etc, has led to a complex world power
structure.
On global issues, India
has followed a non-alignment to multi-alignment with different countries on
specific issues keeping India’s interest as paramount. During the early decades
of independence, India’s adopted the policy of non-alignment and not identified
with either super power, while aiming to get political, security and economic
support from both USSR and the US camps.
India wants to
maintain the status quo in international politics and to strengthen its economic
and defence alliance. India also co-operates with the Anti-West block - Russia
and China, under various frameworks like the BRICS and the Sanghai Cooperation
(SCO). The I2U2 alliance - India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the
United States has benefited tremendously.
For India, the next
step to achieve its geopolitics objectives is to secure a permanent seat at the
United National Security Council and it continues to engages with all member
countries on the issue. It is continuously works towards Increasing its Defence
capabilities and Nuclear security and build strategic partnerships with
different countries.
India is also investing
in diplomatic infrastructure projects and building roads, ports, and improving
connectivity and trade with the wider world.
The India-Middle
East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) involving Saudi Arabia, the European
Union, India, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States, announced
during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, is a reflects of its strategic ambitions.
Till date, India has
not committed to any security alliance or signed any long-term treaties with
any power bloc. India’s objective is to acquire its
position as a mainstay of international system in the coming years.
