Round The World
New Delhi, 30 December 2022
India a World Power
STRATEGIC STEPS IN 2023
By Dr D.K. Giri
(Prof. International Relations,
JIMMC)
A year is coming to an end and we
approach and embark a new year. It is time to reflect on the year gone by and
to pontificate on the coming twelve months. The New Year should be a turning
point in India’s relationship with the world including the unspoken and
attributed ambition to India of becoming a world power. India will be holding
the post of President of two blocs – the G-20 and the SCO. The former may
define India’s innovative world leadership reflecting her diplomatic acumen and
the intrinsic strengths. The following are the areas that need careful treading
and building on.
The preeminent sector to focus on is
the economy. That is currently the measure of the power of a country. Although
India has surpassed Britain to become the fifth largest economy in the world,
on many other parameters it is far from achieving its potential or meeting the
expectations of the world. In particular, the investment that should have been
diverted away from China has not come to India. New Delhi must ponder over the
deficits that deflect such investments.
Also, India was perceived to be the
‘skill capital’ of the world, and perhaps an alternative manufacturing hub. On
both these, the progress is far from satisfactory. In order to be a world
power, India needs to buck-up in building its economyinasmuch as it is often
compared to Chinese economy.
The second sector which is
indubitably the core strength of India is its culture, both political and
socio-civilisational. India is the biggest democracy by dint of its sheer size.But
is it a vibrant and authentic one that the other developing countries may like
to emulate. By the present perception, the answer is no. There are allegations
of widespread violations of human rights, disruption of communal harmony and
preponderance of a trend of intolerance. The leadership has to take these
ominous trends on board and make course-correction if India should claim to
become a world power.
The above reflection is based on the
premise that a country’s foreign policy is a reflection of its domestic
environment, which works as a determinant of the policy towards others. Therefore,
the strategy adopted by many countries, consists of two inter-connected
variables. One, pursuance of its national interest and second, playing to its
own strengths. America’s foreign policy is based on its military and economic
strength whereas China’s is purely driven by its newly-acquired economic
prowess. New Delhi while building its military and economic power to match
these two current big powers will have to use its social and cultural capital
along with the emerging economic strength to promote its foreign policy.
In terms of concrete policies, New
Delhi has to recalibrate its position on the biggest unfortunate development in
February 2022. That is the ongoing war in Ukraine. India’s position which New
Delhi has been painstakingly explaining consisted of both principles of
territorial integrity and strategic autonomy. However, this did not seem to
carry conviction as Russia has invaded Chechnya, Georgia, Moldova and now
Ukraine by using a questionable doctrine called ‘sphere of influence’ and
‘interest zone’. New Delhi tilted towards Russia notwithstandingsome murmuring
disapproval in keeping with her own national interest.To be sure, India has
considerable national interest associated with Russia. That said, New Delhi
should rethink its Ukrainian policy by delinking current Russian President
Vladimir Putin from Russia.
National interest certainly is the
guiding principle of any country’s foreign policy. But if the countries in the
world completely skip international law, they endanger peace. This was the
hypothesis successfully articulated by Immanuel Kant. There is now a window of opportunity
for brokering peace between Ukraine and Russia. Both leaders are inclined to
discuss a cease-fire or a peace deal for various respective reasons. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has already offered his good offices to be an
interlocutor. Modi should leave no stone unturned in making peace between these
two countries at war.
The next strategic issue to tackle
is China. I have repeatedly called out the South Block on its unsteady policy
towards Beijing. The policy has been largely reactive not proactive. These
often seem to be gulled by Chinese offer of peace and prosperity in
partnership. But history shows that China is not known for keeping its word as
it engages in deception diplomacy. South Block should take on China in a
project mode with clearly defined VMGV – vision, mission, goals and values, and
of course, a timeline and costs. In fact, one could suggest that India’s China
policy will define her status as a future world power.
Dealing with Russia and China
certainly brings the West into the equation. New Delhi should deepen its
relations with United States of America structurally as well as functionally. At
an appropriate time, sooner than later, New Delhi should think of a security
treaty with United States which may work as a deterrent against any Chinese
incursion or Pakistani meddling in Indian territory through sponsoring
terrorism etc.
With the European Union countries
and other Western powers, New Delhi must deepen its economic ties. It has been
a long-neglected area. Since the beginning of European Union way back in 1957,
India and Europe have missed the bus in deepening the partnership while both of
them have amazing similarities in building and maintaining their respective
unions. It is time, that gap is made up. Europe needs to defocus on their trade
and commerce whereas India needs to focus on it.
As said before, G-20 offers a
tremendous opportunity to New Delhi to showcase its leadership. In the run-up
to the summit, there will be as many as 200 meetings covering a plethora of
sectors. New Delhi has already articulated the slogan “One earth, one family,
one future”, which is derived from India’s core cultural philosophy vasudhevakutumbakam.While
that provides the emotional glue, practically New Delhi should bring the
equitable development prominently onto the agenda of G-20. Here the concept of
tri-sector partnership (state, business and civil society) in promoting
development will be crucial.
The C-20 created by G-20 should be
given prominence by highlighting India’s local wisdom and good practices in the
development sector. To mention a few, the SHG movement (Self-Help Group), the
producer-led supply chain (the milk cooperative experience in Anand, Gujarat),
disaster preparedness and management and so on. There are many more successful,
institutionalised community practices that could benefit underdeveloped and
developing countries.
The most difficult suggestion to
make is about how India should conduct its presidency of SCO where both Russia
and China are members. If this group provides an opportunity for normalising
relations by building a climate of confidence through inter-personal
conversations, so be it. Though, it does not seem to be happening. New Delhi
should strive innovatively to include in the SCO charter that the member
countries should not use force or take unlawful unilateral action against each
other. That should put some brake on both China and Pakistan. If such a spirit
is not imbibed in either spirit or action, why run a façade of cooperation in a
structural way! Let these be self-invited challenges on India’s foreign policy
for 2023. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature
Alliance)
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