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Why niche foreign ties matter for India | editorials | Hindustan Times

Why niche foreign ties matter for India

Hindustan Times | Updated: Jan 27, 2016 00:02 IST

French President Francois Hollande, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the
Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

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India has always held an unusual position in the international system. It is a liberal
democracy that is not part of the Western alliance; an Asian nation that is not part of the
Asia-Pacific rim and, constitutionally, a socialist state that declined to sign up with the
Soviet Union. While this is often attributed in India to its belief in nonalignment, Gandhian
ethics or adherence to strategic autonomy it is probably more correct to say that Indias
interests are so unique that it is not a perfect fit for these geopolitical parameters. As a
consequence, New Delhi has a tradition of seeking out relationships with countries that
do not fully conform to their regional architecture or to other multilateral structures.
France has long served as this partner for India within the Western alliance. It is why
Oman is Indias closest friend in the volatile Persian Gulf. In a less consistent manner,
countries like Ethiopia and Tajikistan receive special consideration in Indias foreign
policy.
Indias need to seek out niche relations is considerably less in the present day. The
nuclear deal with the US removed the technology shackles and pariah status of the
nuclear nonproliferation regime. Indias economy is now globally integrated to the point
that a concern about sanctions or multilateral isolation is largely academic exercises.
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2/1/2016

Why niche foreign ties matter for India | editorials | Hindustan Times

New Delhi is regularly wooed by the most powerful capitals in the world. Nonetheless,
India still has use for special relationships with nations with independent foreign policies.
In theory, improved India-US relations would mean New Delhi has a one-stop place to go
for almost any conceivable technological, economic or geopolitical requirement. In
practice, the US runs many different policies at the same time. Though this space has
increased over time, the convergence between the interests of India and the US is
inconstant and changing. New Delhi continues to avoid buying frontline weapons
platforms from Washington. There are problems with other countries as well, like Russia
that is becoming increasingly subservient to the diktats of Beijing.
Thus it is in Indias interest to maintain close ties with countries like France or Israel
nations with independent but advanced capabilities in defence, energy and hightechnology areas, but without the geopolitical constraints that larger nations may have.
France is not without its own limitations. It is probably first and foremost among the niche
countries to help India fill the gaps in its foreign and security policy

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