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Strategic autonomy is more than just a diplomatic catchphrase for India, it is the lifeline of its foreign policy in an era of multipolar flux. As India seeks to balance ties with the United States, China, and Russia, while also positioning itself as the voice of the Global South, the concept is no longer theoretical but a daily practice. For UPSC aspirants, understanding this evolving doctrine is essential to connect historical continuities with present-day challenges of geopolitics, economy, and technology.

Introduction

Strategic autonomy, once confined to the academic realm of international relations, has become a core principle of India’s foreign policy. Rooted in India’s colonial history and first institutionalized through Nehru’s Non-Alignment Movement, it has today evolved into a doctrine of multi-alignment, pragmatism, and resilience. In a world where U.S. unipolarity is waning, China is rising, and Russia is recalibrating its global role, India faces both opportunities and constraints. The essence of strategic autonomy lies in navigating this turbulent multipolarity while safeguarding sovereignty, growth, and global aspirations.

The Evolution and Relevance of Strategic Autonomy

1. Historical roots: Emerged from India’s colonial subjugation and Nehru’s vision of non-alignment.
2. Cold War practice: Balanced ties with both blocs while retaining independence.
3. Contemporary shift: Modi-era “multi-alignment” emphasizes flexibility with powers like the U.S., Russia, and China.
4. Core principle: Not isolationism but adaptability in safeguarding national interests.

How the Global Order Shapes India’s Autonomy

1. Fragmented multipolarity: Decline of U.S. dominance, rise of China, Russia’s revisionism, and West’s internal divisions.
2. Volatility in partnerships: U.S. unpredictability under Trump strained trade ties and increased pressure on India over Russia.
3. Fluid environment: India must recalibrate ties to secure territorial integrity, economic growth, and regional stability.

India’s Engagement with the United States

1. Deepened partnership: Defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and technology transfers.
2. New initiatives: Quad, Indo-Pacific dialogues, I2U2, and IMEC reflecting shared concerns about China.
3. Friction points: Trade tariffs, sanctions, and pressure to reduce Russia ties.
4. India’s stance: Balanced engagement, cooperative yet assertively independent.

India’s Balancing Act with China

1. Security challenge: Border clashes of 2020 ended the façade of benign coexistence.
2. Dual reality: China remains India’s major trading partner despite tensions.
3. Strategic response: Strengthened border infrastructure, deepened Indo-Pacific ties, and indigenous defence push.
4. Diplomatic engagement: Continued participation in BRICS, SCO to balance rivalry with dialogue.

India’s Enduring Partnership with Russia

1. Historical solidarity: Long-standing defence cooperation rooted in Cold War ties.
2. Ukraine conflict test: Continued oil imports and weapons purchases despite Western criticism.
3. Autonomous approach: Diversification of defence imports without abandoning Russia.
4. Core principle: Refusal to choose sides in binary contests.

Strategic Autonomy in the Global South Context

1. Voice of the Global South: Asserted during India’s G20 presidency in 2023.
2. India’s stance: “Non-West” but not “anti-West”, balancing pragmatism with plural democracy.
3. Resonance abroad: Other rising powers too seek agency, not vassalage, in global politics.

Domestic and Technological Dimensions of Autonomy

1. Internal constraints: Political polarisation, economic vulnerabilities, institutional weaknesses.
2. Modern domains: Cyber threats, AI warfare, space competition, data sovereignty.
3. Recent steps: Indigenous platforms, critical minerals security, global tech governance participation.

Conclusion

Strategic autonomy is not about standing alone, but about standing tall. It requires balancing ties with major powers, investing in national capacity, and adapting to new-age domains of competition. India’s rise as a sovereign pole in the multipolar order rests on maintaining autonomy without succumbing to bloc politics. The essence is not isolation, but resilience, the art of walking the tightrope with clarity, confidence, and conviction.

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