Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Context
- Recent global events, including SCO and G2 summits, indicate the geopolitical and economic rise of Asia.
- As India becomes a major economy, its foreign policy must adjust to changing power dynamics.
Why Asia Matters?
- Asia hosts two-thirds of global population and wealth.
- Groupings like BRICS, SCO, and ASEAN are increasingly interconnected.
- Regional value-chain–based integration differs from Western, rules-based blocs.
- Countries seek India’s partnership for technological capability and economic balance against China.
India’s Foreign Policy Inflection Point
- U.S. pressure seeks alignment against China and curbing Russian oil imports.
- India asserts autonomy, rejecting externally imposed strategic choices.
- As relations with China improve (border negotiations), and with Russia strengthen, India’s policy space expands.
Strategic Autonomy 2.0
- India must operate with two agendas: high growth potential and large poverty burden.
- Within the UN, India’s development priorities align with the Global South.
- India must shape partnerships without adopting external frameworks.
New Geopolitical Rules
- Digital interdependence shapes future economic and military power.
- For India, data sovereignty, indigenous technology, local defence manufacturing, and inclusive growth are non-negotiable.
- Cyber warfare and AI will dominate national security more than traditional land-based threats.
Neighbourhood Considerations
- Pakistan’s shifting alliances, U.S. interest in Afghanistan, and India’s Chabahar waiver affect regional calculus.
- Defence allocations must pivot toward AI, drones, air defence, missiles, and space, reducing dependence on large platform imports.
AI Sovereignty
- Foundational AI research is essential for double-digit growth.
- India must scale funding, computing resources, and indigenous models to remain a global power by 2047.