India’s New Non-Aligned Foreign Policy
India`s recent so-called “Non-Aligned Foreign Policy (NAFP)”, in the context of the present global turmoil, is completely different from the Non-aligned foreign policy propounded by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in the 1960`s / 1970`s.
- Previous NAFP was an inward-looking policy that shut India off from global markets and pursued nation-building efforts that bore little fruit.
- Present NAFP followed by the present NDA government has its tenets on –
(a) Geopolitical issues with neighbours,
(b) Energy security,
(c) Défense security,
(d) India`s trade in the global arena.
- India’s neighbours are a powerful China which is slowing down a bit, Pakistan which is in a political turmoil, Sri Lanka whose economy has collapsed completely and a growing economic star in Bangladesh. It was not very far in the past when the situation was completely different – China with its economic clout, Pakistan with its belligerence towards India and backed by China, and Sri Lanka too backed by China.
- India`s growing economy needs to secure its energy imports and hence non alignment helps it to get cheap Russian energy as well as other sources from USA, Middle East, etc
- Russia is India`s major defence supplier. However, India has USA, France and other western majors too as its strategic arms suppliers.
- India refused to join global trade blocs like RCEP but has signed FTA`s with UAE and Australia and many more to come.
Hence, it’s a new “Non-Aligned Foreign Policy” embracing India`s needs as well as its external ecosystems.
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