India in a Changing World

Foreign policy has typically been a side issue in Indian politics owing to more exigent domestic issues. However, as former aide to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sanjaya Baru notes, by attending to foreign policy, New Delhi can likely achieve its internal goal of modernization and prosperity. But there are two important considerations: U.S-China relations and regional balance. Should the current economic crisis lead to closer, if strained, relations between the US and China, as Baru suggests, such an outcome could pose some concern to India, if not its traditional friends: Russia, Europe, and Japan. Meanwhile, the South Asian region remains disturbed by internal strife and the threat of terrorism. Should conflicts boil over, interference by major powers is likely as evidenced by past responses. Here too, China’s presence looms large. Inevitably, for India to grow into a balancing presence on the world’s stage, New Delhi’s foreign policy will need to mature. – YaleGlobal