Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

India’s foreign policy has evolved from non-alignment during the Cold War to strategic autonomy, and Multi-alignment in the contemporary multipolar order. This principle allows India to pursue independent foreign policy choices while engaging major powers to advance national interests. The simultaneous cooperation with the United States and partnership with Russia alongside managing complex ties with China reflects this calibrated balance.

Body

• Strategic Cooperation with the United States:
  • India–U.S. ties have deepened across defence, trade, and technology domains.
    • Foundational agreements like LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), and BECA (2020) institutionalize defence collaboration.
  • Engagement in the QUAD and Indo-Pacific frameworks aligns with India’s maritime and security interests.
  • The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET, 2023) strengthens cooperation in AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and space technology.
  • The U.S. is now India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing USD 190 billion (2023–24); collaboration extends to clean energy and climate initiatives.
  • The 4.8 million-strong Indian diaspora in the U.S. acts as a bridge enhancing socio-economic and strategic engagement.
• Sustaining Partnership with Russia:
  • Russia remains a key defence supplier (S-400 systems, BrahMos, nuclear cooperation) and a reliable partner in energy and space sectors.
  • India continues engagement through BRICS, SCO, and Eurasian platforms, despite U.S. sanctions pressure.
  • India has increased oil imports from Russia post-Ukraine crisis, ensuring affordable energy and diversifying supply sources.
  • The Annual India–Russia Summit and 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue sustain high-level engagement, reaffirming mutual trust.
  • Collaboration in civil nuclear projects (Kudankulam) and space technology (Gaganyaan support) reflects enduring strategic alignment.
• Managing Relations with China:
  • India maintains dialogue with China through SCO and BRICS, while countering Chinese assertiveness along the LAC and within the Indo-Pacific.
    • The approach combines deterrence with diplomacy, avoiding bloc alignment.
  • Despite political and security frictions, China remains one of India’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade exceeding USD 118 billion (2023–24).
    • However, India faces a trade deficit of over USD 100 billion, largely due to dependence on Chinese imports in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and machinery; this remains a major strategic vulnerability.

Rationale for Balance:

• Preserving Strategic Flexibility: Prevents dependence on any bloc while expanding options in global affairs.
• Agency over Alignment: India exercises independent agency, choosing cooperation based on national interest, not camp politics.
• Equidistant Diplomacy: Maintains calibrated engagement with competing powers to maximise strategic space.
• Principled Pragmatism: Balances moral commitments (rule-based order) with pragmatic choices rooted in security and development needs.

Conclusion

India’s foreign policy exemplifies multi-alignment cooperating with diverse powers while avoiding dependence on any single bloc. As Dr. S. Jaishankar highlights in The India Way, India’s diplomacy is guided by the need to manage differences rather than choose sides, advancing its national interests through pragmatic engagement and balanced partnerships.