Influential, Networked, Defensive, Inclusive and Active (I-N-D-I-A)

[Subbiah Sridhar]

Apropos the recent visit of our Honourable Prime Minister to the United States of America (USA) and the vision of President Donald Trump to Make America Great Again (MAGA) and our PM’s own idea of Viksit Bharat as a symbol of Make India Great Again (MIGA) which can translate into a MEGA partnership for prosperity.  India plays a significant and growing role in international affairs, driven by its large economy, strategic location, democratic values, and increasingly active foreign policy.  In fact, it can be said that I-N-D-I-A itself is an acronym where ‘I’ stands for ‘Influential’ highlighting its growing economic and political influence globally; ‘N’ stands for ‘Networked’ with its extensive diplomatic ties and participation in various international organizations such as UN, G20, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and such other organizations; ‘D’ stands for ‘Defensive’ reflecting on its strategic military and security role together with its nuclear capabilities; ‘I’ stands for ‘Inclusive’ representing its approach to global issues, focussing on cooperation, sustainable development and peace keeping; and ‘A’ stands for ‘Active’, that is, India’s participation in global environmental, economic and security discussions.  This acronym I-N-D-I-A encapsulates key dimensions of India's role in global affairs.

India is one of the world's largest economies, with a fast-growing GDP.  It is a key player in global trade, with an expanding market, a rising middle class, and a robust services sector particularly in information technology and pharmaceuticals.  India is part of major international organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has been involved in shaping global trade policies.  Technology also continues to be the core focus of partnership with various countries with the initiative on critical and emerging technologies giving way to TRUST meaning Transforming Relations Utilising Strategic Technologies, a mechanism that would focus on a partnership on Artificial Intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors and more. 

India is the dominant power in South Asia, both economically and militarily. Its influence over its neighbours like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan is considerable. Now, that post our Prime Minister’s visit to US, President Donald Trump mention of handing over Bangladesh affairs to India speaks in testimony.  India also plays a key role in organizations like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), BRICS, etc.  The nation has a broad diplomatic presence, maintaining strong bilateral relations with countries across the globe, particularly with major powers like the United States, Russia, China, Japan, and the European Union. India’s foreign policy is based on principles of non-alignment, peace, and cooperation, though it has adapted to changing global dynamics by aligning with certain powers on specific issues.

The nation is a nuclear power and has one of the largest standing armies in the world.  It plays a crucial role in regional security, especially in the Indo-Pacific, where it has sought to counter China's growing influence. India’s participation in multinational security organizations like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) which is a strategic alliance of three other Indo-Pacific democracies, that is, the US, Japan and Australia highlights its role in ensuring regional security and addressing common global challenges such as cyber security, climate change and maintaining security in the Indo-Pacific region.  The recent unveiling of an ambitious new plan viz., the US-India COMPACT, abbreviation for Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology is a blueprint that ties together a relationship based on deeper defence, energy, trade, investment, technology, innovation and people-to-people ties.  It also envisages stronger regional partnerships in India’s neighbourhood across the Indo-Pacific, West Asia and Western Indian Ocean. 

It may further be mentioned that India is an active member of the United Nations (UN), the G20, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), and in other such Grouping of Countries.  It is also seeking a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, a move that aligns with its aspirations to have greater influence on global governance. Through these institutions, India advocates for reform in global systems to reflect the changing geopolitical realities.  India has committed to addressing climate change and is a key player in global environmental talks. It is part of international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and has taken steps to increase renewable energy production. India is balancing its economic growth with the need for sustainable development, often pushing for developed nations to take more responsibility in addressing climate change.

India is involved in providing development aid to many countries, especially in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. India's cooperation aims to foster economic development, improve infrastructure, and build capacities in partner countries. Additionally, India has contributed to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.  The nation has a rich cultural heritage and has increasingly used soft power in its foreign policy. The global spread of Indian cinema (Bollywood), music, literature, and yoga has contributed to India's influence abroad. India’s diaspora, especially in the United States, the Middle East, and the UK, also plays a significant role in strengthening its global presence.

World has witnessed India’s role during medical emergency such as during Covid-19 period and India’s Vaccine Diplomacy which has emerged as a key aspect of its foreign policy.  Through this strategy, India has positioned itself as a global leader in vaccine production, distribution and humanitarian assistance.  India is now known as the ‘Pharmacy of the world’ due to its large-scale production of affordable medicines and vaccines. India’s vaccine diplomacy also extended to bilateral agreements with countries across the world, including those in South Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.  India offered vaccines as part of its foreign aid, helping countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and many African nations.

To summarize, India’s role in international affairs is characterized by its significant economic potential which includes both purchasing power as well as selling power due to its vast demography and with ‘Mission 500’ to push trade to $500 Billion by 2030, its strategic importance, and growing military presence. As it continues to assert itself on the global stage, it is likely to play an even more influential role in shaping the future particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) which is reshaping our world.  AI will revolutionize how businesses operate, driving innovation, machine learning to robotics and computer vision which trends pave the way for a future where AI becomes an integral part of our everyday lives and India shall open doors to new opportunities in this dynamic world of Artificial Intelligence with a road map on accelerating AI infrastructure by end of this year.    India is now working towards its goal of becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047 and it needs a foreign policy that matches this ambition. India’s foreign policy agenda has become more complex and varied, with economy and technology as the new powerful engines. The nation’s economy is growing along with its international profile, and its leadership is proactive in projecting its ambition to be a leading power on the world stage. Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Yours truly,

(Subbiah Sridhar)

Former Indian Diplomat