India’s ‘non-Western, not anti-Western’ approach: How New Delhi balances ties amid tensions

In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical rivalries, IndiaHis foreign policy evolution reflects a quest for “strategic autonomy”, observers say, as New Delhi strengthens its stance vis-à-vis the West and forges closer ties with Asian powers, including rivals. China.

This dynamic unfolds against a background of tensions with United States fish The Russia-Ukraine war and escalating disputes with Canada regarding Sikh separatist leaders. At the same time, Delhi is strengthening its ties with Moscow while navigating a complex relationship with Beijing.

Rather than turning away from the West, analysts say India is deftly balancing its relations with both Western and Asian countries to improve its economic and geopolitical position.

The South Asian nation’s historic reliance on external partnerships for domestic growth has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades, said Professor Sreeradha Datta of the Jindal School of International Business.

“From the 1970s to 2024 there is a huge gap in the capacity that India has built,” she said. “Now everyone’s focus is on the Indo-Pacific and the Bay of Bengal.”

With a growing economy valued at $3 trillion, India is now better positioned to assert its influence more effectively, Datta said. “It can certainly ‘fill the talk’ better on the global stage,” she added.