Though India may have over taken Japan as the third largest economy in the world, its growth has slowed down to a virtual halt. While India is expected to be emerging or rather should have emerged by now as world power, it is terribly constrained with a plethora of domestic problems. Be it insurgencies in Kashmir and Northeast; to trying to contain the Maoist problem; to its politics torn by corruption; to bureaucratic hurdles; to factional feuds in major parties; to a terrible natural disaster; to just about every conceivable problem / negativity a country can have!
Our response to anything from Uttrakhand Tsunami to Kargil to 26/11 to anything that requires a response, still reeks of third world efficiency! There seems hardly any hope in the near future of stability, governance, implementation and growth.
Then when will be, if at all, ever, ready to sit on the global high-table?
Then why is it that despite our multitude of problems we still seem to be wooed by every major power in Asia and the world?
Parag Khanna (whom I know briefly from his WEF days) describes India as a “swing state” – meaning that India may not be a major power in its own right but is capable of swinging the balance of power. Be it in Asia and maybe in the global context as well. Else why would John Kerry come calling right after the Chinese PM’s visit and say that “India is key to Obama’s Asia rebalancing”. USA is obviously placating us for obvious reasons.
Japan is majorly wooing us, so is Australia with joint military exercises and exchanges and which is why China and some other countries against India are also seeking India ! The new Chinese Premier even went to the extent to say that “India and China are friends and don’t need to contain each other” – which according to me is to keep India out of any anti-China bloc I guess.
Now am told Joe Biden is also coming to defreeze nuclear ties with commercial treaties and all this to ensure India’s support for Obama’s “Asia pivot”.
I am no expert on India’s foreign policy but with whatever little understanding that one may have gathered over the years, to me it is smart diplomacy to stick to the non-aligned agenda and staying away from multilateral military alliances (while keeping bilateral option open for those who want too) as well thus making the most of being sought after by the key players in Asia’s security and economic architecture.
If India has to further its core national goals of security and economic growth, it may be imperative to play ball simultaneously with both China and those seeking to contain its ever growing influence and assertiveness.
While IBSA is important, very important infact but it makes sense to be active in BRICS as well – what with China and Russia there and it giving India the option of playing a larger global role. India needs to build a strong trading bloc with neighbors Bangladesh and Myanmar through regional groupings like BCIM, BIMSTEC – thus playing an equal role along with China.
And with US, Japan and Australia keep the relation strong and strategic if nothing goes well with China.
And if China is such a worry, which it is to all in Udyog Bhawan and South and North Block, then make BIMTEC strong and play into ASEAN without China. Strengthen India Ocean Rim (IOR) and South-South cooperation.
India is much sought after in Asia by Japan, US, Australia and ASEAN as a clear counterbalance to China. India holds the key to Asian peace and power balance and that ultimately justifies its permanent place in the Security Council.
The world seems to be getting ready to acknowledge India and its rightful place on the high-table BUT is India ready?
.
Our response to anything from Uttrakhand Tsunami to Kargil to 26/11 to anything that requires a response, still reeks of third world efficiency! There seems hardly any hope in the near future of stability, governance, implementation and growth.
Then when will be, if at all, ever, ready to sit on the global high-table?
Then why is it that despite our multitude of problems we still seem to be wooed by every major power in Asia and the world?
Parag Khanna (whom I know briefly from his WEF days) describes India as a “swing state” – meaning that India may not be a major power in its own right but is capable of swinging the balance of power. Be it in Asia and maybe in the global context as well. Else why would John Kerry come calling right after the Chinese PM’s visit and say that “India is key to Obama’s Asia rebalancing”. USA is obviously placating us for obvious reasons.
Japan is majorly wooing us, so is Australia with joint military exercises and exchanges and which is why China and some other countries against India are also seeking India ! The new Chinese Premier even went to the extent to say that “India and China are friends and don’t need to contain each other” – which according to me is to keep India out of any anti-China bloc I guess.
Now am told Joe Biden is also coming to defreeze nuclear ties with commercial treaties and all this to ensure India’s support for Obama’s “Asia pivot”.
I am no expert on India’s foreign policy but with whatever little understanding that one may have gathered over the years, to me it is smart diplomacy to stick to the non-aligned agenda and staying away from multilateral military alliances (while keeping bilateral option open for those who want too) as well thus making the most of being sought after by the key players in Asia’s security and economic architecture.
If India has to further its core national goals of security and economic growth, it may be imperative to play ball simultaneously with both China and those seeking to contain its ever growing influence and assertiveness.
While IBSA is important, very important infact but it makes sense to be active in BRICS as well – what with China and Russia there and it giving India the option of playing a larger global role. India needs to build a strong trading bloc with neighbors Bangladesh and Myanmar through regional groupings like BCIM, BIMSTEC – thus playing an equal role along with China.
And with US, Japan and Australia keep the relation strong and strategic if nothing goes well with China.
And if China is such a worry, which it is to all in Udyog Bhawan and South and North Block, then make BIMTEC strong and play into ASEAN without China. Strengthen India Ocean Rim (IOR) and South-South cooperation.
India is much sought after in Asia by Japan, US, Australia and ASEAN as a clear counterbalance to China. India holds the key to Asian peace and power balance and that ultimately justifies its permanent place in the Security Council.
The world seems to be getting ready to acknowledge India and its rightful place on the high-table BUT is India ready?
.
