India’s Many Alliances | The Epoch Times

Commentary

India, a rising power with significant geopolitical influence, raises interesting questions about its strategic stance. The nation is part of the Quad alliance with the United States, Japan, and Australia, while also playing a crucial role in BRICS with China and Russia, two of America’s main adversaries. India maintains strong partnerships with Russia for arms, Iran for energy, and Israel for defense technology.

Can India maintain these seemingly conflicting relationships? More importantly, what aligns best with its long-term interests?

The Strategic Autonomy Doctrine: History and Context

To comprehend India’s current strategic stance, we must delve into its doctrine of strategic autonomy, which is deeply rooted in its history and identity as an independent nation.

1. Post-independence and non-alignment: After gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947, India, under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1947–1964), embraced the policy of “non-alignment.” Throughout the Cold War, India refrained from aligning with either the U.S.-led Western bloc or the Soviet Union, prioritizing its independence and national interests. The Non-Aligned Movement embodied this stance.
2. Lean toward the Soviet Union: Despite officially remaining non-aligned, India leaned towards the Soviet Union during the Cold War, particularly after the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Strategic and defense needs largely influenced this relationship, as the United States had aligned with Pakistan and China under President Nixon. Additionally, India’s socialist inclinations and centralization played a role.
3. Post-Cold War adjustments: The collapse of the Soviet Union compelled India to adjust its approach. Economic reforms in 1991 opened India to globalization, bringing it closer to the West while maintaining ties with Russia. Strategic autonomy remains a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy today.

Geopolitical Relationships and Challenges

India’s delicate balancing act necessitates understanding its key strategic partnerships:

1. The United States and the Quad: The Quad—comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—is often seen as an Indo-Pacific counterbalance to China’s expanding influence. India benefits from U.S. technological, military, and economic support. Collaborative naval exercises and defense agreements like COMCASA and BECA enhance these ties. In 2023, the United States emerged as India’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade nearing $100 billion. India exported goods worth $63.36 billion to the United States, resulting in a trade surplus exceeding $26 billion. Strengthening these alliances helps India counter China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and along its borders.
2. Israel: India’s deepening partnership with Israel focuses on defense technology, cybersecurity, and agriculture. Over the past decade, India has procured $2.9 billion worth of military equipment from Israel, including drones and missile defense systems.
3. BRICS: India’s role in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) provides a platform within emerging economies. However, China’s dominance complicates India’s position, particularly amidst ongoing border tensions.
4. Russia: Russia remains India’s primary defense supplier. Despite U.S. sanctions and geopolitical pressures, India continues to procure Russian weaponry, including S-400 missile systems. In December 2024, Russia’s state-owned oil company Rosneft agreed to provide India’s Reliance Industries with 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily for a decade. This $13 billion annual deal underscores India’s dependence on Russian energy amidst Western sanctions on Moscow. However, this delicate balancing act faces challenges as the United States mulls sanctions targeting Russian oil buyers.
5. Iran: India’s ties with Iran revolve around energy security and access to Central Asia. The Chabahar Port project exemplifies India’s strategy to circumvent Pakistan and counter China’s influence. Despite U.S. sanctions, bilateral trade reached approximately $1.8 billion in 2023. However, India’s reduction in oil imports from Iran post-2019 underscores the constraints imposed by U.S. pressures.
6. China: India’s relationship with China is characterized by rivalry and economic interdependence. Border tensions in Ladakh and militarization in the Himalayas highlight mutual distrust, despite bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion annually. China’s control over rivers originating in Tibet grants it leverage over downstream nations, including India. Scholar Brahma Chellaney has emphasized how China’s dam construction and river diversion pose a threat to India’s water security.
7. Pakistan: India’s tumultuous relationship with Pakistan remains a significant challenge, driven by disputes over Kashmir and cross-border terrorism. Pakistan’s close alliance with China exacerbates the dual-front challenges India confronts.

Analyzing a country’s strategic stance necessitates examining it through its own lens. India’s approach to strategic autonomy is shaped by historical experiences and ongoing deliberations among policymakers.