C Raja Mohan writes: Great-power competition demands a first-principles foreign policy
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Context
The shifting dynamics between the US, China, and Russia, particularly the prospect of a US-China détente and deepening Russia-China ties, necessitate a reassessment of India's foreign policy. India must shift from its traditional reliance on 'strategic autonomy' (often interpreted as distance from the West) towards prioritizing its economic and technological modernization through stronger partnerships with the US and Europe to counter the primary challenge posed by an assertive China.
UPSC Perspectives
Geopolitical
The shifting balance of power in Eurasia, characterized by the deepening partnership between Russia and China (especially post-2022 Ukraine invasion), challenges the traditional Indian assumption of Russia as a reliable balancer against Beijing. This Sino-Russian alignment, coupled with the potential for fluctuating US-China relations (from confrontation to temporary stabilization), creates a complex multipolar environment. India's fundamental geopolitical challenge is the rapid rise of an assertive China, manifesting in border disputes, expanding influence in India's neighborhood, and a massive trade deficit. To navigate this, India must prioritize internal balancing (modernization) supported by external balancing (strategic partnerships), recognizing that the West, despite historical skepticism, is a crucial partner for capital, technology, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific, leading to a more robust engagement with platforms like the .
Economic
The article highlights a significant disconnect between India's traditional strategic discourse and its current economic realities. While a focus on 'strategic autonomy' often emphasized ties with Russia and China, India's actual economic imperatives lie with the West. The stark example that India exports more to the Netherlands than to China and Russia combined underscores this reality. The US and are India's primary export markets and sources of crucial technology, starkly contrasting with the immense trade deficit ($110 billion) and deep dependency on Chinese manufactured goods. A 'first-principles' foreign policy requires aligning strategic partnerships with these economic necessities, prioritizing trade deals and technology cooperation with Western nations to accelerate domestic modernization and bridge the growing economic, technological, and military capability gap with China.
Foreign Policy
The concept of Strategic Autonomy, traditionally rooted in principles and often manifesting as a hesitation to deepen ties with the West, is evolving. The article argues that true strategic autonomy should be defined by the capacity to modernize and address the primary security threat (China), rather than mere neutrality or distance from Western powers. The enduring suspicion of the West across the Indian political spectrum must be overcome to leverage partnerships that can reinforce internal self-strengthening. The active sustenance of the despite warnings of 'entrapment' demonstrates a shift towards a more pragmatic, interests-based foreign policy that recognizes the necessity of building a multipolar Asia to counterbalance Chinese hegemony, even amidst the uncertainties of domestic political transitions in partner countries like the US.