PrintFriendlyIn the last ten years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s clout at the International stage has increased remarkably. On foreign policy, the current leadership in New Delhi is assertive, muscular and pragmatic, which can be sensed through the official and non-official statements of Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on various national and international stages and talks. A statement by S. Jaishankar made most of the headlines, not only in India but around the globe– “Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.” The Indian Foreign Minister gave the mentioned statement, clarifying India’s independent position on the Ukraine-Russia War during an interview. India has periodically shown the world that it is not on anyone’s side but on its citizen’s side since the last decade. India’s assertive and muscular foreign policy reflects its citizens’ trust in the current leadership and New Delhi’s concern about national interests, the rule of law, and democratic values. The article talks about India’s confident and proactive responses to different countries on various occasions to guard its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and internal matters.
Surgical Strike on Pakistan After Repeated Betrayals
International Relations theory first used human nature to explain states’ behaviour. The classical realist school equated the conduct of states to the behaviour of humans. The school has its critics. However, states experience events like humans and act or decide according to their experiences. In the case of India, it has undergone multiple betrayals and lies from Pakistan, starting from 1947, the 1965 war, and the 1999 Kargil infiltration. Under Modi’s leadership, India attempted to peacefully engage with Pakistan by inviting Nawaz Sharif to the oath-taking ceremony in 2014. PM Modi reciprocated by attending the marriage of the granddaughter of Nawaz Sharif. However, the Pathankot and the Uri attacks simply took the wind out of the sail. Gone are the days when India just frothed and fumed at a terrorist attack instigated by Pakistan and returned to the negotiating table with Islamabad. This is New India under a strong and dynamic leadership. Today, Pakistan fears military retaliation from India in case of terrorist attacks, whether in Jammu and Kashmir or the hinterland. The 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes exemplified the muscular India. At one end, India demonstrated its assertiveness by ending all diplomatic ties with Islamabad. On the other, It bottled up Islamabad on the International stage by using its expanded international clout.
Actions and Words Both Speak Louder on China
China never expected its regional adversary to display military and diplomatic strength synchronised with the economic rise. During the 2017 Doklam (a tri-junction between India, China, and Bhutan), in aid of Bhutan, Indian soldiers stood like rock. As usual, the extraordinary bravery demonstrated by our Jawans at Galwan in June 2020 forced Beijing to rethink about India. India’s increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific and its ever-growing relationship with the West, especially defence and real-time intelligence collaboration with the US, seriously bothers communist China. “State of the border will determine the state of the relationship”, replied India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishanker, when asked a question on China at the GLOBECSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum. Hence, in the last nine years, New India has become capable of managing its hostile neighbours independently. The Indian Foreign Policy has shifted its gear to assertiveness, balancing and maintaining sovereignty, and establishing influence within the global community. India showed this manoeuvre in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which does not equate to aggression; instead, it involves the tactful deployment of soft power alongside hard power in terms of ‘smart power’.
A Leader of the Global South
India has emerged as a key advocate for the Global South, articulating the concerns and aspirations of developing nations in the international arena. This position has been built on the foundation of its democratic values, economic robustness, diplomatic efforts to build strategic alliances, and securing national interests in accordance with international responsibilities. G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration (G20 joint communique) and admission of the African Union in G20 as a new member amid the ideological divide among Russia, China, and the Western countries on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict in Europe. The grand success of G20 this month signifies a big win for South-North cooperation under the leadership of New India.
Impact of India’s Vaccine Diplomacy
India’s vaccine diplomacy has made a significant impact on the global stage. The country’s primary vaccine, Covaxin, and the more widely recognized Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, have been distributed to numerous countries. The initiative, named “Vaccine Maitri” (Vaccine Friendship), has reached countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and beyond. Through the COVAX initiative and bilateral agreements, India has provided millions of vaccine doses to countries in need. This has not only saved lives but has also bolstered India’s image as a reliable partner in global health initiatives. The diplomatic goodwill generated by these efforts has strengthened India’s relationships with nations around the world. India’s vaccine diplomacy represents a significant step towards global solidarity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. By sharing its vaccine production capabilities, India has played a pivotal role in saving lives and fostering goodwill among nations. However, challenges persist, and a concerted effort is needed to address issues of vaccine distribution, emerging variants, and geopolitical considerations. As India continues its commitment to vaccine diplomacy, it must navigate these challenges with a focus on equitable access, global collaboration, and sustainable public health solutions. In doing so, India can set a positive example for the world and contribute to a more resilient and interconnected global community.
Canada is at the Short End of India’s Stick
The raging diplomatic row between India and Canada on an accusation of involvement of an Indian Government agency in the killing of Khalistani terrorist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Canadian Parliament has brought down India-Canada ties to its lowest in decades. Unidentified assailants killed the Khalistani terrorist in June this year. India strongly responded to this baseless allegation and dismissed Trudeau’s claims as “absurd” and “politically motivated.” Canada is an old Western ally and part of multiple Western alliances (NATO, G7, Five Eyes). Western countries have a history of supporting and expressing solidarity with each other. Justice Trudeau envisaged he would get support from its Western allies on his “unsubstantial” allegations against India, but he underestimated India. The US reacted by saying, “We are deeply concerned about the allegations referred by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed. We urge the Indian Government to cooperate.” The language of the US response is standard and ordinary. The British Foreign Secretary tweeted on X, “All countries should respect sovereignty and rule of law. Important that Canada’s investigation runs its course and the perpetrators brought to justice.” The statement does not even mention India. Canadian allies are supporting “Canada’s investigation”, but not Canada. India is a strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific, and Western countries could not afford to lose a rising partner capable of countering China in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Justin Trudeau justified his statement after a failed attempt to rally the support of its allies on the issue and said, “Canada does not want to escalate or provoke India.” This is unprecedented in nature because India’s sweet position on the world’s geopolitics due to the Chinese threat and independent foreign policy of strong leadership pushed India to the position where a Western nation could not even give a strong statement against India. After reciprocating the diplomatic expulsion, India suspended the VISA facilities for Canadian citizens, demonstrating India’s fearlessness and assertiveness in the domain of foreign policy.
A Tit-for-Tat to London
In March 2023, a violent pro-Khalistan protest erupted outside the Indian High Commission in London. During the violent protest, pro-Khalistan protesters clambered onto a balcony and yanked the national flag from a pole at the front of the building. India responded quickly and demanded an explanation for the “complete absence of British security” that allowed the pro-Khalistan elements to enter the mission premises. The UK government was asked to take “immediate steps to identify, arrest, and prosecute each one of those involved” in the protest. India retaliated by removing security barricades placed outside the UK mission at Shantipath in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave and British High Commissioner Alex Ellis’ residence at Rajaji Marg. The expeditious and tit-for-tat diplomatic response is a coherent example of the muscular and independent foreign policy of New India.
A Foreign Policy Play with a Habitual Meddler
Old Habits Die Hard is an English phrase that suits Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He habitually meddled in India’s internal affairs, especially on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. In recent years, Türkiye barely fails to comment on Jammu and Kashmir in the UN General Assembly. Türkiye has used India as a punching bag to secure its Islamic credentials. It has taken an anti-India stand on Kashmir by criticising India over the abrogation of Article 370. It also questioned India’s secular credentials on CAA protests in 2020 and the Delhi riots. India has rejected all references to Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India. New Delhi firmly called upon the Türkiye leadership not to interfere in India’s internal affairs and to develop a proper understanding of the facts, including the grave threat posed by terrorism emanating from Pakistan to India and the region that destabilises South Asia. Strategically, India has upgraded its ties with Greece and Cyprus to counter Türkiye in the Mediterranean. India and Greece agreed to boost defence industries and collaborate on maintaining maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean in accordance with UNCLAWS. The cooperation between India and Greece is an offensive response to Istanbul, knowing the water dispute between Türkiye and Greece. Precedent Recep Tayyip Erdogan toned down its voice on Kashmir after India assisted his disaster-hit country this year. A devastating high-magnitude earthquake hit Türkiye in the month of February. India was the first responder during this crisis and did not compromise with its global responsibilities. India is now playing foreign policy games at another level altogether and is no longer content to be passive.
Ban on Import from a Member of ‘Axis of Evil’
Malaysia has become a part of the emerging nexus of Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Malaysia, and Turkey, also dubbed as India’s ‘Axis of Evil’. These countries repeatedly targeted India with their vitriol rhetoric and diplomatic means to pressurise India at international forums. Malaysian views on Kashmir and CAA upset the Indian government on various occasions. India has retaliated strongly by imposing a de facto ban on the import of Malaysian palm oil. Private importers were “unofficially” told to stop placing orders by November 2019. India is the biggest importer of edible oils, and Malaysia is India’s leading palm oil supplier. This bold decision hit the Malaysian Economy and its export to South Asia as many South Asian countries depend on Indian imports of palm oil. The Indian government lodged a formal protest against the remarks on Kashmir and CAA, stating that it went against the accepted diplomatic practice of “non-interference in each other’s internal affairs”. The new government took Kuala Lumpur with a firm hand over the Indian Islamic tele-evangelist Zakir Naik, who was given asylum in Malaysia in 2018 despite the Indian government’s objections. The Indian government wants Naik for alleged money laundering and “hate speech”. In the Given situation, India’s strong response to Malaysia shows an economic component of “big stick” diplomacy, which is heavily influenced by the idea of Realpolitik.
New India: An Assertive Responder
India of today, especially under the current leadership, will not tolerate attacks on its internal security, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international laws by any small or great powers around the globe. The assertiveness in foreign policy can be seen clearly in official statements and actions from New Delhi. The present intensity of assertiveness has never been reflected in Indian Foreign Policy before. The New India has grown more robust, and Pakistan is no longer relevant to India; instead, India has become capable of taking on heavyweights such as China, Canada, and Türkiye. In Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s words, “India is entitled to make its own choices”, and New India’s own choices are not cynical and transactional, but these choices are the balance of Indian values and interests.
Modi’s steadfast commitment to regional stability presents another facet that resonates with poliheuristic reasoning. Through the lens of the neighborhood first policy, Modi endeavors to create an environment conducive to economic growth and national security. Engaging with neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka on multiple fronts, including infrastructure development and security cooperation, showcases his commitment to fostering regional stability. This decision-making process aligns intricately with the second stage of poliheuristic reasoning, where options are evaluated based on their contributions to the overarching goal of maintaining a stable and cooperative neighborhood.
India’s positive engagement in the Israel-Gaza conflict extends beyond diplomatic endeavors to include significant humanitarian efforts. India has consistently provided humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, demonstrating a commitment to alleviating the suffering caused by the conflict. Medical assistance, educational support, and infrastructure development projects are among the various forms of aid that India has extended to Palestine. India’s humanitarian initiatives in Gaza not only address immediate needs but also contribute to the long-term development of the region. By focusing on education and healthcare, India aims to empower the Palestinian population and build capacities that can withstand the challenges posed by the conflict. Such initiatives underscore India’s commitment to fostering stability and progress in the region. India’s positive engagement in the Israel-Gaza conflict is part of a broader strategy to maintain regional stability. By actively engaging with both Israel and Palestine, India seeks to avoid taking sides that could escalate tensions and contribute to further instability. This nuanced approach aligns with India’s commitment to non-alignment and its pursuit of peaceful solutions to complex geopolitical issues. Furthermore, India’s engagement in the Israel-Gaza conflict is strategic in fostering economic ties and technological collaboration. India has developed robust defense and technology partnerships with Israel, leveraging Israeli expertise in areas such as agriculture, water management, and counter-terrorism. This collaboration not only benefits India but also contributes to the broader development of the region by fostering innovation and shared knowledge.
Through its nuanced approach, India strives to play a constructive role in maintaining regional stability, avoiding taking sides that could escalate tensions. The strategic partnerships with Israel not only benefit India economically but also contribute to the broader development of the region through technological collaboration. India’s role in the Israel-Gaza conflict exemplifies its commitment to peace, diplomacy, and a balanced approach to navigating complex geopolitical challenges.
( Views expressed by the authors are personal )
Dr Nanda Kishor M S is Head and Associate Professor at the Department of Politics and International Studies, Pondicherry University. He specializes in India’s Foreign and Security Policy, Counter Terrorism, West Asia and Kautilay’s Arthashastra. He holds an M.Phil and PhD from the University of Hyderabad and Completed a Postdoc at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
Mr Anmol Kumar holds a Master’s in Politics and International Studies from Pondicherry University. Has worked extensively on India’s Foreign and Security Policy and is currently working as a Research Assistant in an ICSSR Major Research Project on Integrating Panchamrit in India’s Foreign Policy with Dr Nanda Kishor.