05/03/2023 Indian Diplomacy from Vintage to New Cold War: A Long Walk To Strategic Rise – USI
Strategic Perspectives
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Indian Diplomacy from Vintage to New Cold War: A
Long Walk To Strategic Rise
Author: Shri Srijan Sharma
Period: Jul - Sep 2022
Indian Diplomacy came a long way since independence by navigating through the Cold War
era to the modern Cold war. The navigation has witnessed change of the global order
complemented by globalization and perils of modern threats. Its transition trajectory is
marked by departure from NAM to embracing the new version of vocalizing national
interests under the garb of ‘strategic autonomy’.
In the recent years, there has been a swift progress in Indian diplomacy in con guring and
setting the stage for the Indian narrative which is gradually helping India to walk on the path
of strategic rise.
The Vintage Cold War: Setting the base and Attempts of Departures
The vintage cold war period emerged in post-world war-II, back then India was cementing its
philosophical base of Indian foreign policy where non-alignment, peace and non-violence
became its major underpinnings. Interestingly, the Indian diplomacy channelized its energy
in making India, a third world leader taking the NAM ideals forward in the divided world
order. While vocalizing the NAM ideals, Indian diplomacy experienced mixed results: On one
hand it did manage to attract and nurture relations with Soviets but one the other it
antagonized the US led Western camp.
Many scholars argue that NAM strategically bene ted Indian diplomacy in extracting
bene ts from big powers without any strings attached to it. However, soon it was realized
that the NAM was less likely to sustain in longer run, primarily due to small powers got
wooed by the big power politics and failure of New International Economic Order(NIEO).
Nevertheless, NAM kept its philosophical base alive and managed to keep itself relevant to
the changing global order. Havana Declaration in 2006 is indicative of the same.
An alternate came in disguise when vintage cold war era started to witness threats which
were creation of big power rivalry, for India it was US-China-Pak axis. The Indian diplomacy
made a ne attempt to depart from philosophical and application base of Indian foreign
policy which was non alignment and shook hands with Soviets which gradually became a
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05/03/2023 Indian Diplomacy from Vintage to New Cold War: A Long Walk To Strategic Rise – USI
major security guarantor of India. The move gave push to India’s aspirations of becoming a
strong regional force in the South Asian region. Victory in 1971 war is an evergreen evidence
of shift in Indian diplomacy. Till end days of Cold War 1.0 Indian diplomacy did manage to
keep things quite under control despite witnessing domestic problems of insurgency in
Punjab and terrorism In Kashmir. The only highlight of Indian diplomacy during end days of
Cold War 1.0 was Rajiv Gandhi’s personal equations with big powers and his attempt to
normalise relations with China in 1988.
After the end of Cold War 1.0 which was marked by Soviet Union disintegration in 1991, the
Indian diplomacy under PM Narasimha Rao was one of the nest years in reviving the
upwards trajectory of India’s rise by playing economic cards in emerging multipolar world
order. What was interesting to observe was the US led West was gradually changing its
behavior towards India and was ready to shed off the old cold war mentality. India was
successful in attracting foreign investments and thereby availing plethora of opportunities
to expand, assert and nurture relations with big and middle powers especially with US and
China.
In fact, data shows that FDI in India increased signi cantly within two years of India’s
economic reforms. In 1990, total American investment in India was 20 million$, it rose to
110 million $ by 1993. India was able to manage to normalize relations with China after the
Narasimha Rao’s visit to China in 1993. The Indian diplomacy was also able to leverage the
situation to maintain and nurture its traditional sphere of in uence in South Asia. During the
period, India signed SAPTA and broke ice with Nepal and Sri Lanka with Mahakali treaty with
Nepal and setting joint ventures in Sri Lanka. India’s economic diplomacy was crucial for
managing Indo-Lankan affairs as relations between both the nations had deteriorated in the
light of Lankan civil war.
Therefore, it can be said that post-Cold War 1.0 Indian diplomacy was at its peak in setting
the stage for India’s strategic rise in a new emerging multipolar world order. As time
progressed, Indian diplomacy continued to keep watch on India’s rise which had time to time
witnessed challenges be it due to domestic happenings or managing New Delhi rivals.
Another spectacular episode of Indian diplomacy emerged In the period of 1998-99, when
two signi cant developments took place, one was Pokhran Tests, and the other one was
Kargil War. Under Vajpayee government, Indian diplomacy was at test, on one hand enduring
sanctions due to nuclear tests and on the other, smartly working on international and public
diplomacy during the Kargil war. The Indian diplomacy was successful in convincing the
world of the realities of the war and Pakistan’s nefarious intention against India. During
Kargil war, Indian diplomacy acted as a force multiplier which eventually contributed to
India’s victory.
Soon, world entered into a new decade, during a long span of time from 2000- 14, Indian
diplomacy entered into new forays of the multilateralism, which was seen during UPA-I
tenure. The early to late 2000s Indian diplomacy worked upon in shaping India’s sphere of
in uence. In summation, if we leave India-Pak historical standoff in 2002 and Mumbai
attacks in 2008, Indian diplomacy had a quite time with focus on shaping India’s initial
approach in managing multilateralism and Indian sphere of in uence.
The Modern Cold War: Still Long Way to Go?
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As world advances to technology and explores new forms of geopolitics, the world order
seems to have moved towards a new era of Cold War. The Cold War 2.0 reached its peak
after the black swam event(Covid pandemic) and post-Covid world order got mired by
Russia-Ukraine war and various geopolitical anxieties(dubbed as strategic shocks). For
some, these geopolitical anxieties became a cashing opportunity to play the ‘geopolitical
reset’ game and for some it was devastating. This geopolitical reset game has not only
changed a hush hush affair of Cold War 2.0 to a loud affair but also spread the playground
of Cold War 2.0 to various theatres. Apart from carrying the old baggage of ideological
contestation of liberal ideologies versus other models of politics, the cold war 2.0 got some
new areas of contestations: Contestation over technology such as (Arti cial Intelligence
5G/6G, big data, Weaponization of economy by the US led West has disrupted global
nancial system leading to rise of in ation, food crisis, creation of an alternate economic
blocs, trading system, multi-domain warfare(grey zone con icts) becoming most sought
strategic choice against the adversary, arms race, gun boat diplomacy. Upping the military
tempo has set the stage for grave mistrusts and possibilities of breaking out of new
con icts- China-Taiwan issue is one such case of becoming a ashpoint. The last one is the
contestations is over emerging strategic frontiers for resources- Arctic region is one such
example. Amidst emergence of new areas of contestations in Cold War 2.0, it is worth
discussing that how Indian diplomacy will get on to work to ensure an unobstructed path for
India’s strategic rise in the new global order.
Indian Diplomacy in Cold War 2.0
After experiencing the vintage version of cold war, Indian diplomacy has become well
versed in handling the political and ideological contestations. The Indian diplomacy has
sharpened the application part of the Indian foreign policy keeping the philosophical values
intact. As described by former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the Indian
diplomacy rests upon ve key pillars-
Traditional Thought of Middle Path. Avoiding extreme strategic and political behavior
blended into strategic autonomy.
Multipolar Focus. Neighborhood First, Look East, Act East Policy, Look West, Connect
Central Asia and other policies
Strong International Force. Strategic autonomy involving high degree of assertivity of India’s
national interests and upholding the territorial integrity, socio-political stability, economic
security, resource security, environmental security, technological self–reliance and credible
defense capabilities.
Strong Force of Global Good. Peace, non-violence, rule based international order,
humanitarian good and international cooperation.
Future Vision of Echoing Values. Democracy, open society, culture and harmony are some
core Indian values which will echo and shape the foundational approach of Indian
diplomacy in coming time.
As India continue to realize its dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047 articulated by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, these important ve pillars will strengthen and guide India’s strategic rise
and thereby help in realizing the Viksit Bharat dream. This not the rst time that slogans
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05/03/2023 Indian Diplomacy from Vintage to New Cold War: A Long Walk To Strategic Rise – USI
highlighting the Indian philosophical tradition cemented India’s foreign policy thinking;
earlier, NARA (National Ambition and Regional Aspirations), ‘Sab ka Vikas Sab ke Saath and
Sab ka Vishwas’ (it means growth for all, taking all along and by taking in con dence) and
Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) have been in the existence and still acting
as catalyst in shaping the Indian narrative and maximizing the in uence of Indian
diplomacy.
Like the vintage cold war, Indian diplomacy faces challenges and some opportunities in
modern cold war era too. The challenges and opportunities lies in the emerging forms of
geopolitics out of which, the contestation in geopolitics of economics and connectivity have
become compelling challenges for Indian diplomacy to navigate with. Despite these
encumbrances, India ranks as the 5th largest economy in the world and has an impressive
GDP growth of 6.5 to 7 percent. However, to achieve the mark of 5 trillion US dollar
economy, India has to grow at 9 percent or more.
In the current geopolitical landscape anchored by modern cold war, the Indian diplomacy
has been successful in making right and assertive diplomatic maneuvers to safeguard and
assert its national interests without getting affected by the compulsions with the great
powers. India continued to explore new areas of cooperation and actively engaging in
multilateralism to strengthen its multi-vectored foreign policy. As the world transcends into
geopolitical great game, Indian diplomacy have learnt its lessons in prioritizing national
interests and efforts to increase Comprehensive National Power i.e. development,
deterrence and diplomacy are going to widen the outlook and approach of the multi-
vectored foreign policy and further helps in addressing strategic gaps(Central Asian
Connect and West Asian connect) and ensuring India’s unobstructed long walk to strategic
rise in the evolving geopolitical landscape.
Endnotes
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Bilateral Relations.” India Today. India Today, October 15, 2013.
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Srijan Sharma is a researcher at the USI.
Article uploaded : 23-09-2022
Disclaimer : The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of the organisation that he/she belongs to or of the USI of India.
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