Independence on a tightrope: India’s foreign policy choice

Source: The post is based on the article “Independence on a tightrope: India’s foreign policy choice” published in Business Standard on 1^st November 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Relevance: About India’s foreign policy choice during recent times.

News: Recently, the Russian President praised India’s independent foreign policy at the Valdai Club conference in Moscow.

About India’s foreign policy choice during Russia-Ukraine War

Ever since Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, India has been forced to weigh the benefits of its strengthening alliance with the United States against the needs embedded in its ties with Russia that date back to the Soviet era.

This has demanded an intricate balancing act because, a) India’s defence forces largely rely on Russia for hardware and spares, b) India is building closer defence and economic ties with the US through the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to counter growing Chinese power in the region.

How India’s foreign policy choice remained neutral in Russia-Ukraine War?

Criticised Russia but engaged with Russia: India has consistently abstained or voted against anti-Russian resolutions in the United Nations. On the other hand, India criticised Russia for not exploring dialogue in its differences with Ukraine.

These critiques, however, did not prevent Russia from becoming a major supplier of crude oil to India, accounting for almost a fifth of its overall imports. In September, Russia became India’s largest supplier because of its willingness to offer competitive rates, forcing traditional West Asian suppliers to cut prices.

Note: Russia is no longer a key source of new defence equipment—Europe, the US and Israel are emerging as key suppliers. Also, India is nowhere near the largest buyer of Russian energy — Europe remains in the top spot.

Similarly, India did not attract sanctions last year despite buying Russia’s S-400 air defence missile systems.

Opt out from one of the Key pillars of IPEF: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)’screation of “four pillars” is a result of Indian demand. India has joined three of these “pillars” holding up the IPEF, but chose to stay out of the one concerning “connected economies”.

How has India’s independent foreign policy choice hampered its recent ties with the US?

India’s foreign policy choices have raised concerns in the public discourse that India is reviving historic ties with Russia at the expense of the US. But the US has a) Renewed its F16 fighter aircraft deal with Pakistan and b) Removed Pakistan from FATF despite Indian complaints.