Love thy neighbours

Economy and trade on numerous occasions have proved to bethe two most important agendas for any nation. More often than not, inpromoting them, ‘friends’ have turned hostile and enemies as ‘all weather’friends’, churning the wheel of power perpetually. As pundits say, animpending change in the balance-of-power equation is inclined more towards theeast. While India surreptitiously expands its representation in Internationalbodies but, is it ready to up its ante while bargaining with US and China anddevelop an independent niche for itself?

United States (US)

   

Though India is considered as a strategic partner, it oftenfinds itself at loggerheads with United States. Tariffs, subsidies and marketexpansion are few of the many economic questions that loom over the seamlessrelations. India has been mocked for building “libraries” inAfghanistan. It even finds a mention in the US 301 list – that identifiestrading partners “which do not adequately or effectively protect and enforceintellectual property (IP) rights”. Yet, we rejoice in being categorised as apermanent friend of the United States. Though defence relations are at an alltime-high, one must not forget of the embedded interest of that US DefenceIndustries also hold.

China

The recent contention between India and China vis-à-visPrime Minister Modi’s expedition to Arunachal Pradesh exposed, yet again, thefragile relation which both the nations share. Also the inability of China toprovide a conspicuous support in identifying independent terrorists and theirorganisations in UN bodies, remains yet another unpleasant string.Notwithstanding, the novel bonhomie shared between the two Asian giants,especially post the informal Wuhan Summit, vacillations over the InternationalBoundary seems to be potent enough to jeopardise any warm association betweenthese nations. This, exacerbated by India’s cosiness with the Quad (India,United States of America, Japan and Australia) enjoining to have a freeIndo-Pacific region, cumulatively deteriorates the established positiveconversation between India and China.

Treading carefully

However, India must tread assiduously as the western powersbacking India’s claim in the subcontinent, often, are impertinent towardsIndian interests in other geopolitical situations and multilateral forums. Tostart with, World Trade Organisation (WTO ) remains the premier table whereoften these two blocs remain at loggerheads stalling any productive outcomes.This, compounded by the comment of President Donald Trump questioning India’said to Afghanistan and surreptitiously reducing it to only building libraries,only exhibits vulnerabilities within the strand of the establishedrelationship. Such remarks completely ignore the projects and other aid worth3billion USD through which India is involved in the land-locked nation. ForIndia, which is embittered by a low Human Capital Index and deals with itsinternal issues, such participation deserves recognition; not a gadfly.

Neighbourhood First

As a result, firstly, India should continue to mend its tieswith its neighbours, and consolidate its Neighbourhood First Policy. Thisshould especially come at the time when West is turning raucous and volatile.At present, even the international relation pundits claim that Sino-Indianrelations, today, experience much-abated acrimony than it did in past resultingin an improved trade relation, productive bilateral military exercises, digitalcollaboration etc. Here, the military drill ‘Hand in Hand’ and the Sino-IndianCollaboration Plaza ( SIDCOP ), an initiative to bring the Indian and ChineseIT companies under a common Artificial Intelligence platform, are worth amention. Such an existing platform should be utilised to diversify therelations that circumvent the conventional disputes resulting in a long termpartnership strong enough to absorb situational flare-ups.

Secondly, India must bring in other stakeholders of thesub-continent under confidence and transform its big-brotherly attitude towardsa more avuncular one. She has been lucky enough to be able to reset her tieswith the Maldives and fortunate enough with the reinstatement of Sheikh Hasinagovernment in Bangladesh. However, such prolonged fate is not here to stay, andIndia must engage with every other neighbour in a more robust manner so that acomprehensive relation not affected by a government change, evolves between thepartners. Further, stalled projects such as the sub-regional Motor Vehicle Act,Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (which even improves connectivitywith the North Eastern states ) and tri-nation Highway between  India, Myanmar and Thailand must be given thepriority. These projects also have the potential to improve regionalconnectivity without hampering her ties with China, and at the same timebalancing out Chinese expansion. Thus, a foreign policy that not only dwindlesthe caprices with our neighbours, especially China, but also establishes aproductive and conciliatory measure leading to regional development, is theneed of the hour.

India should keep in mind that the first step towards beinga world influencer or super-power is by keeping her backyard clean andconflict-free. By keeping her dialogue open with all the stakeholders withinthe region this definitely can be achieved.

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