Highlight 36/2024: Strategic Autonomy: India’s Pathway to Global Stability
Anuradha Kakati, 22 October 2024
India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy reflects its evolving foreign policy, shaped by the desire to navigate the complexities of a multipolar world. As India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar highlights in his book The India Way, “this is a time for us to engage America, manage China, cultivate Europe, reassure Russia, bring Japan into play, draw neighbours in, extend the neighbourhood, and expand traditional constituencies of support.” This statement encapsulates India’s dedication to strategic autonomy, underscoring the importance of diversifying partnerships rather than relying on a single ally.
India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy emanates from its leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during the Cold War, where it pursued an independent course by avoiding superpower rivalry while engaging diverse global actors. Today, this approach has evolved into a sophisticated policy of multi-alignment, allowing India to balance relationships with major powers. Rooted in a commitment to multipolarity and multilateralism, this strategy helps India reduce dependence on any single country, safeguarding its national interests amid rising geopolitical tensions while contributing to global stability.
A cornerstone of India’s strategic autonomy is self-reliance, embodied in the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. This vision extends beyond military strength to focus on economic resilience, technological innovation, and public health—key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strengthening domestic capabilities, India seeks to become more self-sufficient and better equipped to make independent decisions in global affairs.
India’s role as a mediator in international conflicts further underscores its commitment to strategic autonomy. Its mediation efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict demonstrate its ability to act as a neutral party, promoting peace and stability. Additionally, India’s de-hyphenation policy—engaging with Israel and Palestine independently—reflects its commitment to fostering peace in historically complex regions. Through these diplomatic efforts, India strengthens its stature as a responsible global player, building bridges and facilitating dialogue among diverse nations.
India’s strategic location at the head of the Indian Ocean enhances its influence in global governance, positioning it as a key player in shaping international economic and security frameworks. As one of the largest and fastest-growing economies, India’s participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) underscores its commitment to strategic autonomy. India asserts that QUAD is not a military alliance against any single country but a partnership addressing shared global challenges, including maritime security, humanitarian assistance, vaccine distribution, and technological collaboration. This focus on multilateral cooperation preserves India’s decision-making independence while contributing to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, reinforcing its role in a multipolar world order.
India’s dedication to inclusivity is further demonstrated by its advocacy for a New International Economic Order that emphasizes representation for the Global South. India actively promotes reforms in multilateral institutions and has championed its bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This initiative has garnered support from numerous countries and reflects India’s position as a key voice for the Global South, amplifying underrepresented perspectives in global governance. In addition, India’s leadership in digital innovation and sustainable development, seen through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), showcases its proactive approach to addressing global challenges, particularly climate change.
In conclusion, India’s strategic autonomy represents not just a foreign policy framework but a vision for a cooperative and balanced global order. Guided by the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”— the world is one family—India advocates for inclusivity and mutual respect among nations. By asserting its influence in promoting a more equitable global system, India offers a compelling alternative to traditional alliances, paving the way for a sustainable international order. Through this approach, India exemplifies how nations can collaborate to tackle global challenges, inspiring others to pursue paths toward greater global stability.
Anuradha Kakati, Highlight 36/2024 – Strategic Autonomy: India’s Pathway to Global Stability, 22 October 2024, available at www.meig.ch
The views expressed in the MEIG Highlights are personal to the authors and neither reflect the positions of the MEIG Programme nor those of the University of Geneva.