A Shadow Foreign Policy For The First Time

Context: A document has emerged from Centre for Policy Research (CPR) in nature of an alternative (Shadow foreign policy) to present foreign and defence policies named ‘India’s Path to Power: Strategy in a world adrift’.

Challenges before India’s foreign policy

• Impact of domestic political and ideological factors on foreign policy: Such as political polarisation and majoritarianism due to domestic sensitive matters like Article 370, citizenship issues and farming regulations.
  • Human rights concerns: Questions were raised in the West about human rights and the state of democracy in India.
  • Authoritarian model of development: Accusation that India drifted away from its own foundational values such as domestic economic growth, social inclusion, political democracy and a broadly liberal constitutional order.
• Questionable flexibility and efficacy in handling of new challenges: Foreign policy postures were questioned during pandemic, economic meltdown and China’s incursion into Ladakh.
  • Confused international order that followed the global crisis saw an “omnidirectional Indian foreign policy”.
• Clout of retreat from globalisation: Due to policies like not joining RCEP and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Challenges in balancing environmental protection and economic development: As, India is still at an early stage of its modern development trajectory, much of its infrastructure remains to be built.
  • It is not yet locked into an energy-intensive pattern of growth, yet there are differences like not committing to net-zero emissions etc.

Way forward: Nourishing foundations of India’s success requires a conscious political effort, and it is a strategic imperative

• Revival of SAARC and re-joining RCEP and continue its long-standing quest for membership in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
• Combination of engagement and competition with China: As China will influence India’s external environment politically, economically and infrastructurally.
  • Work towards creation of India-U.S.- China triangle.
  • Leverage India’s better relations individually with both the U.S. and China.
• Recalibrate policy towards Pakistan: Should be modest with re-opening scope for resumption of dialogue and a gradual revival of trade, transport and other links.