[Answered] As the global order shifts, India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy is challenged by a multipolar world. Examine the foreign policy imperatives for balancing relations with the United States, China, and Russia.

Introduction

India’s quest for strategic autonomy, rooted in Nehru’s Non-Alignment and evolving into today’s multi-alignment, is tested in a multipolar world where U.S.-China rivalry and Russia’s revisionism reshape global geopolitics.

Foreign Policy Imperatives in a Multipolar Order

Managing U.S. Partnership without Subservience

1. Imperative: Deepen ties while avoiding dependency.
2. Context: India-U.S. trade crossed $200 billion (2023); defence pacts like LEMOA, COMCASA, BECA enhance interoperability.
3. Challenges: Tariff disputes (Trump era), CAATSA sanctions threat, U.S. pressure on Russia ties and oil imports from Iran.
4. Response: Use platforms like Quad, I2U2, IMEC to advance Indo-Pacific strategy, but assert sovereignty — as in India’s neutral stance on the Ukraine war.

Balancing China: Deterrence with Engagement

1. Imperative: Prevent escalation, maintain economic leverage.
2. Context: Post-Galwan clashes (2020), trust deficit widened; India bans Chinese apps, boosts border infrastructure. Yet, bilateral trade reached $118 billion in 2023, showing interdependence.
3. Approach: Pursue cautious engagement through BRICS, SCO, RCEP dialogue, while fortifying partnerships with Japan, ASEAN, Australia for Indo-Pacific resilience. Following “Competitive coexistence” — deterrence on borders, selective cooperation in multilateral platforms.

Sustaining Russia Ties amid Sanctions and Isolation

1. Imperative: Preserve historical strategic depth without global backlash.
2. Context: Russia remains India’s largest defence supplier (approx. 45% of imports, SIPRI 2023). Discounted oil imports from Russia cushioned India during energy shocks.
3. Challenge: Russia-China “no-limits partnership” narrows India’s maneuvering space. Western scrutiny of India’s Moscow ties complicates U.S. and EU relations.
4. Response: Diversify energy partnerships (Middle East, U.S.) and defence sourcing (France, Israel) while retaining Russia linkages for strategic hedging.

Domestic Resilience as Foundation of Autonomy

1. Strategic autonomy requires economic strength, defence indigenisation (Atmanirbhar Bharat), digital sovereignty and tech capacity.
2. Example: India’s push for semiconductor self-reliance, 5G/6G development, and critical mineral partnerships (with Australia, Africa) enhances bargaining power.

Multilateral Activism and Global South Leadership

1. India must amplify its G-20 presidency legacy, promoting debt justice, climate finance, and digital inclusion.
2. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s emphasis on “interest-based multi-alignment” reflects India’s effort to act as a civilisational pole rather than a camp follower.

Way Forward

1. Institutionalise strategic autonomy through bipartisan consensus and consistent policies beyond leadership styles.
2. Invest in hard power (military modernisation, defence R&D) and soft power (diaspora, cultural diplomacy).
3. Strengthen regional leadership in South Asia and Indian Ocean Region to consolidate influence against external encroachment.

Conclusion

In World Order, equilibrium requires balance, not dominance. For India, strategic autonomy means walking the tightrope with confidence — engaging all powers, aligning with none.