Historically, India has preferred to stay away from aggressive power politics, formal security alliances and an us-vs.-them foreign policy. Maintaining businesslike relationships with all of the world’s great powers was, and some ways still remains, a paramount objective.
Successive Indian governments are notoriously protective of their nation’s sovereignty, integrity and independence. When Biden administration officials sought to convince New Delhi to wean itself off Russian oil to cut into Vladimir Putin’s revenue streams, India responded by doubling down on its purchases and defending its right to satisfy its energy needs at the most affordable price.
Yet, much like China’s rise in Asia is spurring Japan to rethink its traditional foreign policy doctrine, Beijing’s conduct is incentivizing India to slowly move away from nonalignment. A grand strategy that worked so well for India during the Cold War — forging positive relations with the superpowers and at times serving as an intermediary between them — is no longer effective in a world where bipolarity is becoming a thing of the past. India now has to contend with a neighbor, China, in its immediate region whose economic and military potential vastly exceeds its own.
