Indian Diplomacy: Evolution, Significance, Challenges and Way Forward

Context: This article is based on the news “Balancing acts” which was published in the Business Standard. Recently, United States President Joe Biden decided not to come as chief guest at the 2024 Republic Day parade.

Biden Won’t Be the Republic Day Chief Guest

• The United States President’s decision indicates a challenging phase in Indo-US ties. 
• Notably, Mr Biden did not offer a specific reason for not coming. Mr Biden’s refusal comes soon after Washington accused New Delhi of a plot to assassinate US-based Sikh separatist.
• As a result, India had to cancel the Quad Leaders’ summit, scheduled for January 27, 2024, since the other members, Australia and Japan, were unlikely to attend in the absence of the US.

Must Read: France President Emanuel Macron to be the Republic Day Chief Guest of 2024

Evolution of Indian Diplomacy

• Objective of Foreign Policy: A successful Indian foreign policy creates the external circumstances conducive to realizing India’s fundamental aims, viz. protecting its physical security and its decisional autonomy, enlarging its economic prosperity and its technological capabilities, and realizing its status claims on the global stage. 
• Non-Alignment Movement: India started its journey internationally by remaining strategically autonomous under the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) umbrella. 
  • India, also a founding member state of the NAM, stayed true to its decision for more than two decades by not moving into any of the two primary security blocs (US, USSR) during the Cold War. 
• New Opportunities: From Non-Alignment in the 20th century, Indian Foreign Policy underwent tremendous changes with changing times in the global order. 
• New Approach: India slowly started to reach out to the West and its allies, with Indian Foreign Policy moving on to Strategic Realism and Economic Pragmatism. 
  • India now has strong relations with multiple poles of power while still exercising its strategic autonomy without much external influence from a certain or any blocs of power
• Attaining Objectives: It requires New Delhi to engage at three different levels abroad: 
• • Within the subcontinent and its immediate periphery. 
  • The intermediate level of the international system, populated by various middle powers.
  • The core of the system where the great powers reside.

Significance of Indian Diplomacy

• Diplomatic Balancing: India has been trying to ensure good relations with all major powers.
  • For example, US-Russia Balancing: The US considers India an important ally in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s growing assertiveness. And India balances its ties with Russia by engaging in a massive defence deal, like the purchase of the S-400 Russian missile defence system, notwithstanding the possibility of American sanctions through CAATSA.
  • In 2017, the US passed the CAATSA  to punish countries with deep ties to Russia, North Korea, and Iran with economic sanctions.
• Changing Indian Foreign Policy: India is shedding its past hesitation in foreign policy matters and is boldly crafting partnerships for a rules-based, democratic international order. 
  • For example, shaping global outcomes: In its 75th year after independence, India’s centrality in the wider Indo-Pacific is today well-established, and it wants to play a leading role in the international system so that it can shape global outcomes.
• Economic Balancing: The Indian government enters into multiple alliances and seeks partnerships that correspond to its interests. 
  • For example, India has vested interests in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and Russia’s Eastern Economic Forum. 
  • Buying Russian Oil: Notwithstanding pressure from the West, India saved roughly $2.7 billion by importing discounted Russian oil in the first nine months of this year,
• Political Balancing: At the political level, India has been trying to make it work with the Quad as well as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and other partnerships in recent years. 
  • India is balancing the Western nation-backed G20 with the China-founded SCO grouping of regional nations. 
  • India’s differing behaviour towards Ukraine and Israel, both of which have been attacked in violation of international law, can be explained by this balancing politics. 
  • For example, the Indian government has assured Israel of its full solidarity following the Hamas terrorist attack, whereas India refused to condemn Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
• Maintaining Strategic Autonomy: India is engaging in simultaneous military exercises with the United States and Russia, trying to balance its strategic interests. 
  • For example, the annual India-U.S. military exercise called Yudh Abhyas is held in Alaska. Meanwhile, the Indian Army was on another joint exercise, with a small contingent of Indian troops participating in a multinational exercise in Russia. 
• Championing Global South: India has emerged as a champion the interests of the Global South, visible throughout its G20 Presidency.
  • Before the Delhi Summit and at the start of its presidency, India convened the first-ever Voice of the Global South Summit with 125 countries participating. India made the Delhi Summit most inclusive by inviting the largest number of guest countries from the Global South. 

Challenges Faced by Indian Diplomacy

• China’s Rise: China is a direct military threat to India, particularly in light of the recent border disputes in Ladakh. China’s influence in both established international organizations like the United Nations and new institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank gives it opportunities to hamper Indian interests and goals in multilateral forums. 
  • China’s alignment with Pakistan and deepening relations with other South Asian countries and China’s growing economic and military power present a complex challenge.
• India and the Middle Powers: India’s outreach to Pacific Asia has faltered because its economic policies have prevented commercial integration with this region. 
  • For example, the Indian economic concerns leading to its exit from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership prevented India from becoming relevant to mitigating the strategic threats posed by China in East and Southeast Asia. 
• Limitations to the Balancing Act: India finds different routes to avoid sanctions and meet its goals, but this may not work in the long term. Diplomatic highs might run out, and India in the upcoming years, may have to take a side, whether with Russia or the West.
• Lack of Reliable Partners: A nation that maintains cordial relations with all may lack reliable allies in times of uncertainty. 
  • India stands as the outsider within various international groupings, like the Quad, BRICS, and the SCO, as prominent member states exhibit stronger connections with each other than they do with India. 
• Regional Rivalries: Maintaining stable and cooperative relations in the region is challenging, as seen in India’s relationships with neighboring countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, due to various historical and political factors.

Way Forward to the Indian Diplomacy

• Shaping Global Politics: India’s role in the geopolitical world is significant, as evidenced by its SCO presidency and hosting of the Voice of the Global South. With its strategic location and growing economic power, India could play a significant role in shaping the future of global politics.
• Providing a Negotiating Platform: For the first time since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia, the Western nations, and the US were in conversation during the Raisina Dialogue and during the G20 meeting. 
  • India provided an exclusive platform for the nations, facilitating dialogue and demonstrating the country’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region and globally. 
• Global Governance Reforms: The UNSC’s inability to handle wars like China’s aggression on Taiwan, Azerbaijan and Armenia’s dispute, Ukraine-Russia conflict, Israel-Hamas conflict, etc. is a global concern. As part of numerous groupings advocating urgent UNSC reform, Africa and India can lead this reform effort.
• Tackling Chinese Problem: A closer alignment with the United States, along the same policy path India is already pursuing, represents the best way to meet the challenge of China’s rise. 
  • A nonalignment, hedging, or alignment strategy with China likely would not serve India’s interests because China’s power, geographical proximity, and policies already represent a clear danger to India’s security and global interests.
  • For this, the Quad grouping serves as its means for balancing China’s rise in a friendly, gentle, and non-hostile way.

Conclusion:

Indian diplomacy, marked by its dynamic evolution, adept balancing of global partnerships, and commitment to shaping a democratic international order.