As multilateralism erodes, India must reframe its foreign policy, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the changing world order in the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing the need for a new national identity and approach to international relations.
• Erosion of multilateralism is impacting India's foreign policy, particularly its 'strategic autonomy', due to the rise of China and the US's changing role in international institutions.
• The U.S. is focused on preventing the rise of another China, which impacts India, given its potential to become the world's third-largest economy.
• India needs to reframe its foreign policy, replacing 'strategic autonomy' with a focus on 'Viksit Bharat 2047', prioritizing economic and technological relations.

Detailed Insights:

• India's leadership of the Global South at the UN is challenged by China's rise, which has created alternative institutions and increased its influence within the UN.
• The U.S. has withdrawn from several UN institutions and rejected the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism, leading to unilateral tariffs and impacting India's trade interests.
• Strategic autonomy, relevant during the Cold War, has become a self-declared identity, with India gravitating towards the Soviet Union/Russia for military technology.
• India should focus on developing endogenous capabilities, prioritizing trade diplomacy with Asia and Africa, and fostering technological relations with Russia and China.
• India should treat relations with Pakistan as a foreign policy issue, exploring economic incentives through water-sharing arrangements, pipeline revival, and trade agreements.
• As chair of BRICS, India can reposition it as an economic cooperation community, focusing on initiatives like linking official digital currencies for smoother cross-border transactions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Multilateralism: A system of international relations based on cooperation and collaboration among multiple countries.
• Strategic Autonomy: A country's ability to make independent foreign policy decisions without undue influence from other powers.
• Viksit Bharat 2047: India's vision to become a developed nation by 2047, focusing on economic growth, technological advancement, and human development.