IN FOCUS
INDIA MANEUVERING THE TRAIL IN A
TURBULENT GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE
BY DR MANAVIK RAJ*
A
fter the Second
Wo r l d Wa r ,
many countries
attained freedom and
there was a struggle for
many states to start all-
over. The world was also
a witness to the division
of the two powerful blocs
during the fi rst phase of
Cold War. Eventually, the
balance of power shifted
from a bipolar design to a
multipolar order. Today,
we do not live in a multipolar world but an ever-increasing
multilayered and metaconceptual quandary. Apart from the
Washington consensus, new alliances and deals have shaped
the strategic edge towards trade and there are new powers
emerging. Military arsenal build-up, cyber-security and trade,
nuclear capability, confl icts through proxies, involvement of
non-state actors, interest groups and the political ambition
of powerful nations have been the contemporary themes of
debate in international aff airs.
A change in leadership; the locus of control, and other
extraneous factors also do contribute to the shift in the power
balance. The rise of China, and the new leadership in the US;
the confl ict in the UK with the European Union; China’s
Belt and Road Initiative & the American trade war; the role
of Russia and Japan; India and its neighbors; the situation
in South America and Africa; the confl ict in West Asia, and
the rise of protectionism away from free trade, is the reality
today! There is an ever-increasing power struggle among
many powers for global domination and hegemony.
The Contours of Foreign Policy in India
India has come a long way since independence. The
foreign policy of India refl ects the eff ort of the political
leadership since the last seventy years. India is in a very
important location and its geography plays a key role in trade.
The Indian ocean acts as a link between South East Asia and
West Asia, and hence securing the country’s strategic interest
has been an important aspect for India. The golden triangle
(Burma, Thailand and Cambodia) and the golden crescent
(Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran) have always infl uenced the
Indian foreign policy makers for a long time. The securing of
the North-Western part of
India and its borders are
of vital importance to the
country. India’s tension
with its neighbours like
Pakistan and China have
always been borne with
confl icts between sides,
leading to diplomatic talks
and dialogue for decades.
One cannot ignore history
and the struggle of the
freedom movement by
our national leaders that
gave us independence.
In the era, one needs to look at foreign policy through a
multidimensional lens especially keeping in mind the current
geopolitical landscape, and the confl icting times that we live
in. Indian foreign policy has focused on improving ties with
global powers and neighbouring countries in South Asia
extending to South East Asia. The government has raised
a number of points in the course of dialogue with many
countries- South Asia Policy, West Asia policy, association
with the GCC countries, relations with North America and
South America, relations with Europe and Eurasia, and other
multilateral engagements at various summits- (ASEAN, East
Asia Summit, SAARC, G-20 Summit, APEC, the UN etc.).
The Role of India as an engaging partner of ASEAN
and the Quadrilateral Push
The ASEAN and Indo-Pacific strategy has a wider
objective, keeping in mind the strife in the South China Sea.
The vast traditions that have been derived from Hindu, Islamic,
Buddhist and British infl uences have a geo-strategic context
embedded in Asian history. The rise of China and South East
Asia’s developments bear the fruition of a collective objective
not just among countries in Asia but also the larger Indo-
Pacifi c strategy. New Delhi’s engagement and historical ties
to this region have also brought to the light several defence
partnerships, and good economic engagement which is
conspicuous of the ‘Look East Policy’. The Modi government
has strategically engaged with South East Asia keeping in
mind the ‘Act East Policy’. The exercises with Myanmar and
Malaysia and the agreements with Singapore and Vietnam are
part of a far-reaching strategy and view of the government.
46 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 10 • Oct-Nov 2018, Noida