Opinion | In the global power struggle, India is determined to remain a friend to all and to none
- In an era of shifting power dynamics, India stands to benefit from a policy of both non-alignment and multi-sided engagement
- Yet as geopolitical hostilities persist, remaining focused on national interests and resisting calls to take sides will take considerable skill
It’s becoming clear that we are currently witnessing the transition from a US-led liberal order to something that is yet to be determined. And perhaps there is no country so fortunately positioned as India to engage with all sides of this power struggle.
It is also a member of BRICS, has both Russian ties and friendly American relations, maintains communication with China and keeps up with its Japanese, French and Israeli engagements.
It is uncomfortable for Western partners to see New Delhi’s concurrent Eastern orientation. But such multiway engagement combined with non-alignment should be understood in the context of India’s various regional concerns, including China’s rising influence, growing Russia-China relations, and China-Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation.
India’s busy schedule in September signals it is intensifying its strategic diplomatic outreach. The Quad senior officials’ meeting, the IPEF ministerial discussion, the SCO Samarkand summit, and the 2+2 mini-laterals with the United States and Japan were among the highlights in India’s calendar.