The foreign and security policy of
India is being influenced by a fast-disintegrating international system,
growing great-power competition, and a revival of hard security issues. This
interview is an explanation by Prof. Satish Kumar, Professor of Political
Science, IGNOU about how India is rebalancing its strategy and capabilities and
partnerships in the modern times.
Q. In what ways does India define
its policies in the foreign and security policy in the contemporary world?
A. The current policy in India
shows a significant change in the previous concept of strategic independence of
non-alignment to a rather practical approach of strategic hedging. New Delhi
understands that, in the multipolar world, power is decentralized and alliances
are dynamic. India hence plays a multi-polar game with more than one major
power at a time, agreeing where there is an overlap of interests whilst keeping
the option of disagreeing or disengagement where there is none. This is the
best way to minimise strategic weakness and maximise diplomatic flexibility and
enable India to act in response to regional and international contingencies
unhindered by treaty commitments.
Q. Has the India changed its way of
projecting its power and making its intent known?
A. The sharp shift has been towards
the rejection of declaratory policy in favour of capability-based signalling.
The diplomatic posts of India are now being gradually accredited by tangible
military readiness, force modernisation, defence indigenisation, better
logistics and infrastructural development on sensitive frontiers. Precision
strike, air defence, maritime surveillance and network-centric warfare have
been enhanced, which has enhanced deterrence. This consistency between the will
and ability makes the foreign policy of India to be perceived as credible and
not aspirational.
Q. The Indo-Pacific is the heart of
the Indian diplomacy. What is its place in security planning?
A. The long term strategic
interests of India on the Indo-Pacific include maritime security, trading
routes, and stability in the region. Nevertheless, the security planning of
India continues to be strongly influenced by the continental challenges such as
the presence of unresolved borders and the sub-conventional threats.
Consequently, India has to juggle between a dual-pronged approach of
establishing operational power in the Indian Ocean Region and at the same time
have high preparedness along its land borders. This game of balance is a sign
of strategic realism and not overextension.
A. Foreign policy has shifted to
have defence diplomacy as a key instrument in the Indian foreign policy. India
improves the interoperability and gains trust with partners through combined
exercises, logistics preparations, exports of defence equipment, and military
education exchanges. Meanwhile, these operations are strategic indicators -
they indicate that India is ready to play a stabilising role without making any
formal commitments. Defence diplomacy therefore enhances deterrence, promotes
indigenous industry as well as increase strategic presence of India.
A. Security is now considered as a
holistic notion that goes beyond the area of military strength. The national
security thought is composed of internal stability, economic resilience,
technological self-reliance, cyber and space security and information warfare.
The policymakers of India have begun to realise the fact that contemporary
conflicts are becoming hybrid and that the ability to withstand the society and
the strength of institutions are equally crucial as the supremacy over the
battlefields.
Seema Sanghosh English: January 2026
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