India’s uniqueness on the global stage arises from its rich tapestry of cultural,
civilisational and pluralistic heritage, coupled with its deep rooted social values setting it apart from the rest of the world. As time has progressed, India’s approach towards its foreign policy has shifted from non alignment to multi alignment. It now maintains equal proximity with all sides in the global arena and its commitment to multilateralism significantly enhances its strategic autonomy, making it more robust and resilient. It was during the 6th QUAD Summit in Wilmington that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “We are meeting at a time when the world is surrounded by conflicts and tension. At such a time, it is important for all of humanity that the members of QUAD move forward based
on democratic values. We are not against anybody. All of us support rule based world order, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of all disputes. We no longer live in an era where international relationships are exclusive or limited to specific alliances”. It is a multi-polar world; different global powers interact with one another in diverse ways. Every country wants to get the best out of the international order in the most effective way it can. India seeks to lead the world as a Vishwa Mitra (Universal Friend). During the Covid Pandemic, it shares vaccines with countries around the world and was among the first
to offer assistance to Turkey during its devastating Earthquake. These actions highlight India’s commitment to friendship and humanitarianism on the global stage. It neither believes in hegemony nor wants to be part of great camps. Instead, it is trying to be a global friend and considers the whole universe as one family, a philosophy that was clearly reflected in the theme of its G20 Summit. India’s geopolitical position, economy and demographics are crucial factors driving its
strategic autonomy. Its stance is straightforward to engage with the world as part of
global family and its strength lies in its ability to navigate and operate within multiple arenas in the current geopolitical landscape, which is why India seamlessly fits into various alliances whether it is QUAD, BRICS or the SCO. It occupies a powerful position and plays a decisive role in shaping international matters. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describing India as a big country with a big influence on the Russian economy said, if India and Indians change their attitude towards Russia, the war will end. In the current era, many countries particularly those in the Global South feel that their interests have become more complex and diverse, and that their needs are not adequately addressed in the juggling global order. India, a country with a heart has a
feeling for other people and countries. Therefore, it is increasingly seen as a genuine and moral leader of the Global South, a role that was exemplified by its initiative to welcome the African Union (AU) into the G20 during the Summit held in New Delhi last year. This move underscored India’s commitment that all countries have a voice on the global stage. It consistently advocates for addressing the challenges faced by the Global South including entrenched economic disparities, environmental vulnerabilities, political instability, crippling debt, infrastructure gaps and crises in food security and healthcare.
“Highlighting its remarkable achievements, including the moon landing, fintech innovations, semiconductor manufacturing projects, feeding to 1.4 billion people, hosting numerous global capability centres and more, India believes that these milestones convey its powerful message of commitment to rebalance the unfairness of the current global order. India advocates for every possible avenue to transform world dominated by certain great power blocs to a world led by world and thus proposing a recalibration of the international governance system.”
Through various international platforms and high level conferences, India has raised the concerns of the Global South, asserting its position with unwavering determination and strategic diplomacy. Moreover, India is rapidly advancing in the deployment of large scale digital technology and this can serve as a roadmap for the Global South to enhance its trade and diplomacy. India tends to be associated with tangible assets of Soft Power like attractive personality, culture, political values and institutions, policies, yoga, sports and more. Joseph Nye points out that a new face of power, i.e., Soft Power can be essential means to influence other nations. Nye says that Soft Power is the ability to co-opt and attract, so as to make others do what one wants. India places strong emphasis on using Soft Power strategies to address critical global issues, setting an example in the pursuit of global unity. Beyond this, India is using its Diaspora to enhance and project its Soft Power on the global stage. The Indian Community abroad has actively worked to craft a distinctive and positive image of the country internationally. The pluralistic, secular and tolerant nature of Indian society has also enabled the Indian Diaspora to integrate wherever they settle. Hence it has consistently aspired to occupy a central position in Global geopolitics, leveraging attraction as the driving force of its Soft Power. In the light of the above discussion, India emphasizes the need for hope and optimism in today’s challenging global landscape. Highlighting its remarkable achievements, including the moon landing, fintech innovations, semiconductor manufacturing projects, feeding to 1.4 billion people, hosting numerous global capability centres and more, India believes that these milestones convey its powerful message of commitment to rebalance the unfairness of the current global order. India advocates for every possible avenue to transform world dominated by certain great power blocs to a world led by world and thus proposing a recalibration of the international governance system.
(The Author is pursuing M.A in Poltical Science at Kashmir University. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
