A West-Aligned New Delhi: The Case for a Bolder Indian Foreign Policy
Vineeth Jarabana, Online Branch, Staff Writer
January 18th, 2023
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, India, bound by its longstanding non-aligned foreign policy, has straddled a thin line. While most Western countries condemned and sanctioned Russia, India has hesitated to do either. Rather, India has continued purchasing Russian oil while also calling for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine without necessarily casting blame on either side. However, recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled an annual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Russia’s nuclear blackmail in Ukraine, signalling the Indian government’s growing discomfort with Russian bellicosity. Instead of trying to balance its relationship with both Russia and the West, India should end its non-aligned foreign policy approach and expand ties with the West while distancing itself from Russia.
By re-orienting its foreign policy towards the West and away from Russia, India would be better equipped to tackle its regional security challenges. Currently, India is locked in a tense border dispute with China. Over the past few years, Indian and Chinese troops have engaged in physical confrontations along the India-China border. China has also consistently aligned itself with Pakistan, India’s historical adversary. The West has made it a priority to counter China’s growing influence while Russia has aided and abetted China’s rise. For example, the U.S. recently implemented technological export controls that have “decapitated” China’s semiconductor industry. On the other hand, over the past year, Russia has significantly expanded military ties with China. A closer relationship between the West and India would enable extensive technological and defense cooperation that would strengthen India’s ability to deal with the regional security issues posed by an emboldened China.
Furthermore, an Indian foreign policy shift away from Russia and towards the West would also bring about unprecedented economic benefits that are not currently possible due to its non-alignment. The West, collectively, represents a significantly larger portion of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than Russia. The Russian economy, due to the combined impact of crippling sanctions and population loss, has been a persistent state of decline. India, with its large working age population, has a significant manufacturing capacity. Its large population also offers a robust market for Western goods and services. Greater economic relations between India and the West would also enable India to reduce its dependence on China. With reduced dependence, India would also no longer have to balance its security and economic concerns when dealing with China. Instead, India would have more freedom to take steps that would deter Chinese aggression along their shared border while also not having to worry as much about economic consequences of these steps.
Lastly, Indian alignment with the West over Russia would provide a unique opportunity for India to live up to its democratic ideals. Mr. Putin has catalyzed Russia’s transition from a functional democracy to an authoritarian regime. The Russian government has increasingly targeted dissenters and minorities as well as restricted key freedoms and rights. Russia’s track record at home is just as concerning as its track record abroad. In Syria and Ukraine, Russian armed forces have repeatedly committed unspeakable atrocities against innocent civilians. Russia has also undermined democracies around the world, especially by interfering in foreign elections. By maintaining strong ties with Russia, India, as the world’s largest democracy, is normalizing and even funding Russia’s undemocratic actions at home and abroad. An Indian foreign policy that is no longer aligned with Russian interests would send an unmistakable message to autocratic countries: respect for human rights is essential to unlocking the full benefits of bilateral relations with India.
The case for Indian alignment with the West over Russia is clear. From strengthening its economic standing to bolstering its approach to security-related problems, India would be greatly advantaged.