15 May 2022, NIICE Commentary 7912
Bhawna
In this globalized world, everything is interdependent and inter-connected in terms of economics, politics, society, culture and so on. The present world order has been shifting from ‘Bi-polar’ to ‘Multi -polar’ world order due to which the new power equations among the countries have been gradually evolving over a period of time. In the present context, India can be seen as one of the most qualified country to be able to dominate this new world order. The recent visit of India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar and Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh for the annually held fourth ‘2+2 Ministerial Dialogue’ to meet their counter parts in Washington DC on 11 April 2022, has paved a new way for India to showcase her diplomatic maneuvering at Inter-national platform.
This meeting is considered as one of the most consequential meetings held between the two popular democracies of the world in order to discuss the regional or global issues and further enhanced their ‘Bilateral Cooperation’ to achieve their common long-term national interests. The meeting has incorporated a series of issues which are of prime importance in the geopolitics such as climate change, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, terrorism, post-pandemic recovery of the world economies, security of the Indo-Pacific region, reduce China’s influence in the region, human rights violations and so on. In fact, there was also a virtual meeting took place between the President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing about global situation lately and how to overcome those issues.
The 2+2 dialogue is a breakthrough to consolidate the ‘Strategic Partnership’ between India and the US through establishing a more extensive agenda which will act as a driving force and further strengthen their common Security and Defence objectives. This time India has clearly articulated her interests and priorities in front of the US and world media. India has an independent foreign policy approach and will pursue her policy goals in her own ways without any pressure from the outside world. One of an apt example was when United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said that, ‘We are monitoring rise in human rights abuses in India’ and in lieu of this statement, his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar replied gently by saying that, ‘India too have views on human rights violations in the US’ and India has its own ways to react.
And by doing so, the US has received a strong message from Indian side that the dynamics of world politics have been changing moderately and now India is much more aware about her own national interests and how to pursue them independently without the interference of any developed nations whatsoever. India is now falling into the category of the matured democracy and has learned much from her past diplomatic experiences. Those times have gone when the US used to take unilateral decisions on any given issue for her own interests by simply ignoring the concerns of small and less developed nations. India’s foreign policy approach has been shifted towards a new paradigm which is much more comprehensive in nature. Through active engagement in the 2+2 dialogue with the US, India has informed the world leaders of various countries that the stature of India has been increased in the development of global politics economically, politically, strategically and militarily. India has brilliantly portrayed herself as a classic example of the ‘Soft Power’, through her splendid diplomatic skills at the global stage. The concept of the ‘soft power’ is derived through persuasion rather than coercion. And because the ’Soft Power’ diplomacy is reshaping the power equations among the nations therefore, playing a crucial role in the present context of geopolitics where everything is so unpredictable while acting as an impetus towards the peaceful co-existence. India’s soft power diplomacy has been admired globally which has given India an edge to become a mediator in tackling several international issues.
Likewise, due to change in current world order and power dynamics over a period of time, the US who is vocal only for her own national interests has to realise the fact that her global hegemony has started declining gradually and she has to compromise over certain issues. Lately, the US has understood that she does not have to intervene unnecessarily into the internal matters of other countries until her own interest is at stake which is clearly reflected in the statement that, ‘America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests,’ by the former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. The 2+2 dialogue has genuinely created a ‘level playing field’ for India to be vocal about her own national interests and have a dialogue with one of the world’s great powers. Also, the US has realised the importance of India in the coming years to counter China in the Indo-pacific region which the US cannot afford without the support of India. Overall, India has a massive potential to be a global player and lead the world.
Bhawna is Research Interns with NIICE.
