India’s Foreign Policy and Its Role in Contemporary International Relations
Keywords:
India, foreign policy, international relations, Global South, multi-alignment, strategic autonomy, non-alignmentAbstract
India’s foreign policy has moved from the idealism of non-alignment to a pragmatic strategy of multi-alignment that seeks influence with every major power while preserving strategic autonomy. This paper traces that evolution up to 2019, examines the principles and determinants behind it, and assesses India’s relations with the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and its neighbours. It then evaluates India’s role in global governance, the United Nations, multilateral groupings and peace operations, as well as its contribution to climate action and development. The study finds that India’s rising economic weight, demographic scale and democratic credentials have made it a pivotal “swing state” in the emerging multipolar order, but that a persistent boundary dispute with China, an unstable neighbourhood, trade vulnerabilities and limited state capacity constrain its ambitions. The paper concludes that India’s global role will depend on sustained economic growth, deeper regional integration and institutional reform of its diplomatic machinery.
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