On a Newfound Solid Footing

The Ministry of External Affairs in India was always in the news as it dealt with the country’s foreign relations. But it was never in the news for strong and unequivocal promotion of Indian interests in the world.

But now there is a marked difference in the way foreign policy is being handled. There is a confidence borne out by the fact that whenever India speaks at world body meetings, countries take notice. The global south has perhaps found a new mentor as being a developing country, many of India’s interests coincide with their own.

This change has come about in the last two years, especially after the pandemic. However, the signs were visible during the pandemic as well.  India’s vaccine diplomacy was much appreciated during that time.  Many countries in South America and Africa had not received any vaccines even a year into the pandemic. India sent vaccines all over the world in response to requests from countries.

The new chapter in Indian diplomacy started when China entered Galwan in eastern Ladakh and tried to claim territory which is at best disputed. In doing so they backtracked on agreements which had enabled trust to be built up for over three decades. India decided to take active measures to deter China from its misadventures. India began a series of diplomatic initiatives to engage China. It also started measures to decouple its economy from China. This was a bold step as compared to the meek responses which India had taken earlier in repose to China’s incursions along the border.

The Russia Ukraine war was the incident which showed the world a new avatar of India. Confident and resilient. The war brought in its wake supply chain disruptions and skyrocketing oil prices. Russia was offering oil at discounted prices to circumvent sanctions imposed by the US and Europe. India bought oil from Russia despite the pressure from the west to adhere to the moral high ground and show solidarity with the west. Russia was an old, trusted friend who has genuinely helped India in the past, even at times using its veto power in the UN. India was not about to abandon Russia despite its aggression in Ukraine.

This rankled the west which had till now taken India’s foreign policy for granted. They assumed that India would toe the line of the west and abandon Russia which India refused to do.

The change in India’s foreign policy is mainly due to a strong government at the center. This government has shown the courage to back its convictions. National interest is now front and center. India was able to weather high oil prices in the world due to its buying of discounted oil from Russia.

India’s foreign policy today reflects sobriety, balance and above all dogged determination. As the EAM said India is in nobody’s camp. India is in India’s camp. This message has gone out loud and clear, so much so that the US has acknowledged that India can buy as much Russian oil as its wants.

Since independence, India has also been dragged in the dock on various issues like erosion of democracy and personal freedom. Many think tanks and academics across the world have been criticizing India for what they call its rising political autocracy. In answer, experts in India are questioning the methodologies and techniques adopted by these agencies, as well as demanding that Indian rating agencies should now counter the foreign ones. Earlier India used to meekly accept any ratings that the foreign agencies dished out.

India’s policy towards Pakistan has also been articulated most unequivocally. India will not enter into any talks with Pakistan unless it stops its funding for cross border terrorism. Also, it has dealt firmly with Chinese designs on claiming and forcefully occupying Indian Territory. The Chinese military buildup along the LAC has been matched by India to deter any misadventure. India is also building its own infrastructure along the border areas. The diplomatic heft that India is showing its neighbors has been matched by action on the ground. This is the solid footing on which India’s foreign policy is standing. India can now play to its strengths when it assumes the G20 Presidency in December.

After the G20 Summit in Bali a CNN report said that a new world power is emerging in Asia, and it is not China. 

Imdia is also hosting the meeting of the National Security Advisors of the Central Asian Republics (most of the CIS) with regard to its security interests in Afghanistan. It is significant that the meeting could have been held under the umbrella of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization but was not. India wants to keep its security interest paramount in the region and hence wants to lead these countries.

It is said there will be an economic recession in the world by next year. Several wars are being fought across the world. The next few years are going to be turbulent to say the least. The current Indian policy rooted in national interest and resting on a solid footing of commitment and confidence, stemming from rising economic clout, will stand India in good stead, to navigate the troubled times ahead.