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Utilising India’s moment under the diplomatic sun

Context: 

India recently hosted several high-level meetings, including the G-20 Foreign Ministers meeting and the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs ­supported Raisina dialogue and the ‘Voice of Global South Summit’

  • India will also be the chair of both the US/West-led G-20 and the China-centered SCO in 2023.
Probable Question:

Highlight the way India is asserting its role at global policy making fora. Also, discuss in light of the statement the challenges that still lie before India. 

India’s position in global politics: Earlier and Now

  • India was seen as a powerless player in world politics, often criticised for complaining and asserting itself. 
  • Great powers even considered India an irritant for expressing its opinions.
  • India’s pivotal position at the G­20, the Quad, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Global South today has given it a sudden surge in stature and reputation. 

Reasons behind elevating position of India:

  • India’s Fortunate Confluence in World Politics: Contemporary India’s pivotal position in world politics is due to a fortunate confluence of deliberate and unforeseen factors which appear to be working in New Delhi’s favour. 
  • Postwar World Order Failure: A far stronger economic and military power, courted by great powers, New Delhi has cleverly used the failure of the postwar world order today to its advantage. 
  • Indo-Pacific Region as Geopolitical Alternative: Global leaders are looking for geopolitical alternatives in the Indo-Pacific region due to worries about an aggressively rising China.
  • Delhi’s Dual Strategy in Global Politics: Delhi’s dual strategy in global politics involves playing both sides, seeking to be at the global high table while simultaneously claiming to be the leader of the Global South.
  • Active member of multilateral forums: India is also an active member of multilateral forums which has China in it — BRICS and the SCO. 
  • Contemporary India speaks the language of revisionism and status quoism in the same breath, and with ease.
  • In the Ukraine war, New Delhi has not alienated, directly or indirectly, any of the parties involved in the war in a big way. 

Utility of India’s leadership 

  • Indian foreign policy treads the fault lines of world politics to advance national interests.
  • The recent G20 meeting had two successes: it created an environment for US and Russian officials to meet and it brought together warring parties in one room.
  • India actively seeks a seat at a restructured global high table, and the Global South argument is useful in this pursuit.
  • India carefully balances global fault lines to increase its utility.
  • New Delhi’s revisionist language is rooted in its desire to be part of a restructured status quo.
  • Those seeking India’s support for stability in the international system should consider its quest for a seat at the high table of international politics.

Challenges in front of India

  • End of Indian chairpersonship of G-20 and SCO:
    • Indian chairpersonship of the G­20 and the SCO ends this year, and Beijing will not let New Delhi take over the leadership of the Global South so easily. 
    • In geopolitics, national glory is not necessarily an enduring outcome.
  • Needlessly offensive language: Some of the language from New Delhi in response to the West or the U.S. could be construed as needlessly offensive.
  • Diplomatic highs for domestic political ends: There is always a danger of governments using diplomatic highs such as this towards domestic political ends rather than for geopolitical objectives
  • Limits of balancing opposite sides: India may not make strong strategic partnerships if it plays all sides. This could be a problem in the event of a future conflict with China.

Conclusion

  • Indian diplomacy needs to adopt the language of finesse and authority rather than that of aggression. Confident nations need not talk like reactionaries. 
  • While bridging the divide in world politics is a noble task, indecisiveness might not yield lasting partnerships. 

News Source: The Hindu

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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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