Needed, a Map for India’s Foreign Policy

Context: In the backdrop of setbacks in foreign policy, especially in the neighbourhood, India has to reconsider its diplomacy’s trajectory.

Reasons for India’s setbacks in foreign policy with neighbours:

• India’s growing closeness towards U.S.:

• Steady erosion in strategic autonomy:  When India started deepening its partnership with the United States, it  began steadily aligning its policies with U.S. interests. For example: 

• India, under pressure of the U.S, moved slowly in development of Chabahar port since 2003.
• It  scuttled an ambitious gas pipeline project and cut down trade ties drastically.
• When the U.S. pulled out of the Iran deal in 2018, India brought down its oil imports from Iran.

• Deepening defence ties: U.S. and India cooperating each other in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific region to contain China’s rise. 

• For example: Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).  

• Coupling of domestic policies with foreign policies:

• Passing of the CAA: It was a regionalisation of the domestic problems of the neighbouring countries, some of which are  long-time friends. 

• Sub-sects Muslims who were persecuted in neighbouring countries, were excluded from the citizenship programme. 

• Abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. 

• It led to the suspension of fundamental rights in the Kashmir Valley.
• Damaged India’s reputation as a responsible democratic power.
• It gave propaganda weapons to Pakistan. 
• Another factor that prompted the Chinese to move aggressively in Ladakh.

• Misplaced confidence: Great powers wait to establish their standing before declaring that they have arrived. But India did not follow this path.
• High-handedness by India in Nepal during its constitutional crisis which caused a traditional ally to turn hostile. 

• The updated political map of India released in November further strained the relationship.

Conclusion: To address the current crises, India has to focus more on its strategic depth to  reorient  its foreign policy trajectory.