the last decade has witnessed a sea change in India’s global ascendency, and the country is being increasingly considered among equals in the comity of developed nations. This transformative recognition is an unequivocal referendum both in terms of India, explicitly exercising its policy of strategic autonomy in matters global and intrinsic economic resurgence backed by a strong, modern and capable military. That apart cutting-edge home-grown technology has shaped the contours of digital India spanning from financial inclusiveness to outreach in space at a fraction of global cost. These are marked milestones that have significantly enhanced India’s stature where we see the West vying for an equitable partnership with India while a host of nations in the Asian peninsula and the Far East look up to it as a saviour against the belligerent China. The hard fact remains that India will play a decisive role in global affairs despite the UN denying it the rightful place in the Security Council.
A geopolitical scan reveals that since the beginning of this century, the international order was shaped by the West with the US playing a prominent role. Today, this global system is under serious threat of disintegration. The US, along with the European Union, finds itself caught in a vicious quagmire of economic decline, burgeoning illegal immigration and growing radicalism, which is inadvertently polarising debates on the social fabric of society. Questions of domestic inequality and identity have left them incapable of effectively championing the values of the international order.
On the contrary, the balance of global economic power has again tipped in favour of two major players in Asia – India and China. Thus, within this nebulous global landscape, India has endeavoured to put in place a new framework for its territorial security, economic growth and affirmative infrastructural development, and that of developing countries. Thus, as a rising global power, propelled by its economic might, military prowess, and demographic advantages the world is now looking at India for inclusive solutions. This stature can be gauged from being a prominent voice in global forums like the G20, participating in multilateral groups like the I2U2 and establishing itself as a significant player on the world stage.
However, this global ascent is paradoxically accompanied by a concerning decline in its regional influence, particularly in South Asia, where it once held sway. Issues with its immediate neighbours will remain festering with no clear end in sight. Political dissent in the Maldives and issue-based differences with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have had compelling effects on bilateral relations. While the former, with Pakistan and China, may remain intransient, the question of inclusivity with the latter has been diplomatically espoused as the voice of the Global South in the G20 summit under the Indian presidency.
India is now making strides in leveraging artificial intelligence for the global public good. The AI4Bharat initiative aims to harness AI and machine learning to address India’s unique challenges and contribute to societal development
The scope of the Global South, a new normal to redefine the Third World, extends beyond its immediate neighbourhood to encompass a broader group for cooperative development that reiterates multilateralism. By using the term ‘Global South’ and directing its shared development efforts in this region, India demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity in global governance and international relations. The developmental assistance extended to the African continent showcases India’s efforts in this direction where China and the US have been dominant players.
In the realm of technology, Digital India has seamlessly fused technologies and wireless connectivity impacting all aspects of governance to improve the quality of life of citizens of a nation with 1.2 billion people. This has enabled synchronisation and coordination in governmental accountability and deliverance across departments besides plugging financial leakages.
Besides, India is now making strides in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for the global public good. The AI4Bharat initiative by the government of India aims to harness AI and machine learning technologies to address India’s unique challenges and contribute to societal development in domains such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and grassroots-level governance across India’s diverse linguistic landscape, encompassing 22 languages.
However, this global ascent is paradoxically accompanied by a concerning decline in its regional influence, particularly in South Asia, where it once held sway. Issues with its immediate neighbours will remain festering with no clear end in sight
In its quest for global inclusivity, India is actively communicating this initiative to international audiences. The assistance offered holds promise which over time can effectively contribute to engaging the Global North in addressing its growing economic and cultural challenges by defending and protecting its intrinsic interests.
Another serious concern is India’s stance on global conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Both linger on ideological dominance resulting in incalculable death and destruction. The Ukraine war has polarised the world in opposing Russia. India is seen as a strong mediator that has a credible acceptability in either block. The recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Russia is being keenly watched by his Western allies with scepticism while urging him to use this visit to rally a Russian consensus to put an end to this long-drawn conflict and human suffering. In the Middle East, the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza is finding little inroads with Israel. While Israel claims that it has achieved its objectives after the October terrorist mayhem, it has yet to formally agree to a ceasefire. Similar is the human conundrum in Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Congo and several other Third World countries.
Regrettably, today’s wars are mostly undeclared, undefined and inglorious affairs typically involving multiple parties, foreign governments, proxy forces, covert methods and novel weapons. They are executed with scant regard for civilian lives, international norms, conventions regulating armed conflict, or the interests of host populations in whose name they are fought. In fact, the Western-led consensus favouring multilateral, collaborative approaches to international problems has collapsed. This is matched by the parallel rise of authoritarian and populist regimes that prioritise narrow national interest over perceptions of the larger common good. In such a climate of volatility, international law enforcement has become ineffective and is symbolised by the inability of the international community to freeze the conflicts. Instead, Western nations are aggressively offering military hardware support thereby fuelling the conflict into perpetuity rather than resolving it.
Amidst this conundrum of human suffering, India is vociferously championing the transition of an ‘influence-oriented’ global order to one that is ‘confluence oriented’ wherein India will play a pivotal role
Amidst this conundrum of human suffering, India is vociferously championing the transition of an ‘influence-oriented’ global order to one that is ‘confluence oriented’ wherein India will play a pivotal role. Given this extraneous confidence, today India’s growing capabilities are giving new hope for stability and prosperity in the world. India is seen as a strong pillar in the new emerging multipolar world order stressing dialogue and diplomacy as key elements to resolve conflicts for global peace echoing the tenets of inclusivity. This Russian visit is being seen as a tectonic shift in global politics. The Prime Minister’s call for peace through dialogue has had a telling impact on the Russian President who in turn said their two countries enjoyed a “special strategic partnership” and praised the Indian leader for his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict so as to resolve the Ukrainian crisis by peaceful means.
It is in this context that the Indian initiative of developmental cooperation and transformative inclusivity across the spectrum can be a harbinger of global peace. The greatest achievement of Indian diplomacy would be to bring these warring factions to an agreeable settlement and dwell deep into the post-conflict reconstruction and resuscitation of the regimes in the state. The future holds in favour of India as a great nation.
–The writer is a former GOC of the Indian Army and presently serves as a Strategic Consultant and Principal Advisor. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
