India’s Role in Global Geopolitics

Context

India was at all times a very active globalities hierarchy, held together at microscopic levels not only status income, but diplomatic relations. In recent decades, its position in aiding find international battle names is really minimal. Though India has forceful and gallant reactions to regional conflicts like Bangladesh (1971), Maldives (1988) and Sri Lanka (2009), today it moves with caution in global conflicts.The experts opine that India needs to reappraise its foreign policy in order to harmonise its economic aspirations with its world-wide diplomatic positions. This will guarantee India as a leading global power.

India’s Diplomatic Approach: Past vs. Present

• Indians had played an important role to change the face of global politics in the past by memorandum led NAM.
• Multi-Alignment Strategy: At present, India keeps its focus on bi-lateral relationships much over any collective international influence.
• Global Contributions: India has given through ‘Vaccine Maitri’, climate efforts, humanitarian assistance.
• Neutral In Large Conflicts: India has kept away from the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Palestine tussle.
• UNSC Abstention: Abstention in UNSC on Ukraine has many developing countries swayed but not positioned India as a player in peace negotiation.

The credibility that India has within economic as well as diplomatic terms, must therefore seek to be more prominently represented in global policymaking.

Risks of Remaining Passive

1. Loss of Influence to Rising Middle Powers

If India doesn’t rise, others will take the lead in diplomatic world politics.

• • Türkiye: Facilitated the directly hosted talks between Ukraine and Russia (2022), enhancing its diplomatic credentials.
  • Saudi Arabia: Hosted U.S.-Russia, U.S.-Ukraine talks and presents itself as a major diplomatic player.
  • Qatar: Brokered peace negotiations between the two nations behind the ongoing Congo-Rwanda conflict, showing that even small countries can affect world affairs.

2. Weakening India’s Global Leadership Credibility

• • As a voice of the Global South, India has emerged as a leader of the developing nations. But, if it does achieve world conflict resolution, then credibility is not diminished.
  • Hopes of a Global Power: Given India’s position as the fifth-largest economy of the world, the construction of something more than a diplomatic statement has been expected.
  • Impact on UN Marschall Rat Aspirations: Indien beansprucht für sich einen permanenten Sitz im UN-Sicherheitsrat, unerlässlich ist aber dafür, dass Indien aktiv an globalen Fragen teilnimmt.

3. Strategic Setbacks in a Changing Global Order

• • A world is beginning to observe geostrategic changes and rebalances. If India keeps back, it will in fact lose its influence in top bargains.
  • U.S.-China Relations: US China if US and China have a new understanding, India can be left out of Asia’s new order.
  • Threats to the Quad’s RelevanceThe Quad (India, US, Japan, Australia) seeks to push back against Chinese influence, but India’s dovishness may undermine its effectiveness.
  • China’s Expanding Outreach: Projects such as Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are of late expanding China’s influence in Africa, Latin America and South Asia, while India is passive.

How India Can Establish Itself as a Global Power

1. Strengthening Regional Policies

• • India should be actively involved in regional groups like SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) in order to keep leverage.
  • With India excluding RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), the country needs to explore different routes to build economic relations with East Asian countries.

2. Expanding Presence in Europe

• • Europe is grappling with internal and external challenges providing India a chance to deepen relationships.
  • A trade deal with the U.S. can open the way for further economic political cooperation with the European Union (EU).

3. Playing an Active Part in Mediation

• • India should only facilitate dialogue and negotiations, it does not need to be a direct mediator.
  • Past role: India had played a part in the Korean War (1951-52) and was proactively a part of the UNSC (2021-22).
  • By retaining this, India can gain global rivalries efficiently.

Conclusion

India’s intent to become a global power has to go beyond economic prowess. The world is moving towards unilateral and geopolitical variables.If India is to be a major global leader, it must lead the agenda on global issues instead of merely responding to events. Diplomatic gambit, partnerships building and active peacemaking will affirm India’s role as one of the centres of gravity in a multipolar world. India will be measured not from how rich the economy is, but how much it pushes for a stable and balanced global order.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. “India’s aspiration to be a global power requires more than economic growth; it demands strategic geopolitical engagement.” Discuss in the context of India’s role in global conflict resolution and its evolving diplomatic approach.

Download as PDF