India under Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the keystones of the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement). But in the course of time we have consciously steered away from it, to an extent that India did not attend one of its summits at Venezuela in 2016. Why is it so?
The NAM was in its core about not aligning with any major power blocs of the time, which were the Soviet Union and the US. Some say the time of NAM is over. But in the new scenario, instead of two blocs, we have a multi-bloc world. Aligning with any one or only one should not be in India's interests. This is because India has always pursued a middle-ground strategy. Much like the ways of a Buddhist monk. Since India is neither a superpower (yet), nor an under-developed country, the approach it has towards other countries can affect it in a much more serious way than in the case of a superpower like the US. It is constantly persuaded to perform a balance act to keep all countries close to it. A clear example of this is the hyphenated relationship towards Israel and Palestine.
Recently India declared that it considers joining the Quad which is a proposed cooperative group of 4 countries, viz, the US, Australia, Japan and India. Joining it, India will run the risk of being in a bloc. With these 4 countries together, the Quad will have a serious impact on the maritime reality of the Indian ocean and the Pacific ocean. It will also have implications in the South China Sea, which China considers it's own backyard. So, ultimately and unfortunately India has managed to irk China in the process. This will fuel more disputes like the one we have experienced in Doklam, the past year. Therefore, Any polarized foreign approach will surely have a resultant negative effect on India's relations with its neighbors and other countries from which India frequently seek support from in case of UN related issues.
Is India ready to make such bold decisions? It might be. But if it is then, such decisions are not impossible to take given India is ready with a response to any repercussions. For that to work, India should have a robust domestic environment conducive to finding solutions to external problems. So, until we sort out our own problems, and make ourselves capable of dealing with any external aggression, may it be overt or covert, India should venture carefully into making game changing decisions. So what does that say? should India join the Quad? There is a saying - Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Here the word enemy can be replaced with 'not so friendly friend' in the case of India.
The decision to join the Quad can surely work as a diplomatic or strategic poke to certain countries. but in the long run, India should take into account the stability in relations with the neighborhood. Ultimately, the better-off plan is still a middle-path or the new NAM.
References taken from, The Hindu article - A new NAM for the new norm - by T.P. Sreenivasan
The NAM was in its core about not aligning with any major power blocs of the time, which were the Soviet Union and the US. Some say the time of NAM is over. But in the new scenario, instead of two blocs, we have a multi-bloc world. Aligning with any one or only one should not be in India's interests. This is because India has always pursued a middle-ground strategy. Much like the ways of a Buddhist monk. Since India is neither a superpower (yet), nor an under-developed country, the approach it has towards other countries can affect it in a much more serious way than in the case of a superpower like the US. It is constantly persuaded to perform a balance act to keep all countries close to it. A clear example of this is the hyphenated relationship towards Israel and Palestine.
Recently India declared that it considers joining the Quad which is a proposed cooperative group of 4 countries, viz, the US, Australia, Japan and India. Joining it, India will run the risk of being in a bloc. With these 4 countries together, the Quad will have a serious impact on the maritime reality of the Indian ocean and the Pacific ocean. It will also have implications in the South China Sea, which China considers it's own backyard. So, ultimately and unfortunately India has managed to irk China in the process. This will fuel more disputes like the one we have experienced in Doklam, the past year. Therefore, Any polarized foreign approach will surely have a resultant negative effect on India's relations with its neighbors and other countries from which India frequently seek support from in case of UN related issues.
Is India ready to make such bold decisions? It might be. But if it is then, such decisions are not impossible to take given India is ready with a response to any repercussions. For that to work, India should have a robust domestic environment conducive to finding solutions to external problems. So, until we sort out our own problems, and make ourselves capable of dealing with any external aggression, may it be overt or covert, India should venture carefully into making game changing decisions. So what does that say? should India join the Quad? There is a saying - Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Here the word enemy can be replaced with 'not so friendly friend' in the case of India.
The decision to join the Quad can surely work as a diplomatic or strategic poke to certain countries. but in the long run, India should take into account the stability in relations with the neighborhood. Ultimately, the better-off plan is still a middle-path or the new NAM.
References taken from, The Hindu article - A new NAM for the new norm - by T.P. Sreenivasan
