India`s recent so-called "Non-Aligned Foreign Policy (NAFP)", in the context of the present global turmoil, is completely different from the Non aligned foreign policy propounded by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in the 1960`s / 1970`s.
1) Previous NAFP was an inward-looking policy that shut India off from global markets and pursued nation-building efforts that bore little fruit.
2) Present NAFP followed by the present NDA government has its tenets on -
(a) Geopolitical issues with neighbors,
(b) Energy security,
(c) Defense security,
(d) India`s trade in the global arena.
3) India's neighbors are a powerful China which is slowing down a bit, Pakistan which is in a political turmoil, Sri Lanka whose economy has collapsed completely and a growing economic star in Bangladesh. It was not very far in the past when the situation was completely different - China with its economic clout, Pakistan with its belligerence towards India and backed by China, and Sri Lanka too backed by China.
4) India`s growing economy needs to secure its energy imports and hence non alignment helps it to get cheap Russian energy as well as other sources from USA, Middle East, etc
5) Russia is India`s major defense supplier. However, India has USA, France and other western majors too as its strategic arms suppliers.
6) India refused to join global trade blocs like RCEP but has signed FTA`s with UAE and Australia and many more to come.
Hence it's a new "Non-Aligned Foreign Policy" embracing India`s needs as well as its external ecosystems.
Invite critical views
No comments:
Post a Comment