Score:
9.5/15
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Topper’s Copy
GS2
International Relations
15 marks
“The evolution of the U.S. National Security Strategy reflects a shift from partnership-based global leadership to conditional burden-sharing.” In this context, examine the implications of the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy for India’s strategic autonomy and its role in the Indo-Pacific.
Student’s Answer
Evaluation by SuperKalam
Demand of the Question
- Evolution analysis - Shift from partnership-based leadership to conditional burden-sharing in U.S. NSS
- Strategic autonomy implications - How 2025 NSS affects India's independent decision-making capacity
- Indo-Pacific role implications - Impact on India's regional positioning and responsibilities
- 2025 NSS context - Specific reference to the latest strategy document
What you wrote:
The 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) signals paradigm shift- from partnership-based global leadership to conditional burden-sharing, reshaping power equations and alliance expectations worldwide.
The 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) signals paradigm shift- from partnership-based global leadership to conditional burden-sharing, reshaping power equations and alliance expectations worldwide.
Suggestions to improve:
- Can reference specific triggers like post-Afghanistan withdrawal lessons or rising defense spending pressures that led to this strategic pivot
- Could mention the "America First" continuity across administrations as context for burden-sharing approach
What you wrote:
[DIAGRAM:
A flowchart showing a transition. On the left is a box with "2005", "Partnership", and "Shared Leadership". An arrow points to a central box labeled "Shift in U.S. Strategic Approach". Another arrow points from the central box to a box on the right with "2025", "Burden Sharing", and "conditional Commitments".
Another diagram is centered around a circle labeled "Changing Contour of U.S. N.S.S.". Five points connect to this circle:
1. Burden redistribution: Allies expected to fund and lead regional security (eg. Japan, India)
2. Selective engagement: U.S. prioritizes domestic economic resilience over military overreach.
3. Alliance conditionality: Security cooperation tied to shared costs and policy alignment.
4. Strategic Containment: Continued China focus but with shared regional responsibility.
5. Economic protectionism: Supply-chain security elevated above free-market partnerships.]
[DIAGRAM:
A flowchart showing a transition. On the left is a box with "2005", "Partnership", and "Shared Leadership". An arrow points to a central box labeled "Shift in U.S. Strategic Approach". Another arrow points from the central box to a box on the right with "2025", "Burden Sharing", and "conditional Commitments".
Another diagram is centered around a circle labeled "Changing Contour of U.S. N.S.S.". Five points connect to this circle:
1. Burden redistribution: Allies expected to fund and lead regional security (eg. Japan, India)
2. Selective engagement: U.S. prioritizes domestic economic resilience over military overreach.
3. Alliance conditionality: Security cooperation tied to shared costs and policy alignment.
4. Strategic Containment: Continued China focus but with shared regional responsibility.
5. Economic protectionism: Supply-chain security elevated above free-market partnerships.]
Suggestions to improve:
- Can elaborate on historical evolution by contrasting Obama's "pivot to Asia" with current conditional engagement approach
- Could add specific examples like AUKUS submarine deal as evidence of selective alliance building
- Can reference CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act as examples of economic protectionism in NSS
What you wrote:
Implications for India's Strategic Autonomy
1. Conditional cooperation: Increased U.S. expectations may pressure India on QUAD commitments.
2. Technology bargaining: Access to U.S. defense tech linked with policy conformity (eg. iCET).
3. Reduced Policy Space: U.S. conditionality limits India's freedom on Russia and energy imports.
4. Economic dependence Risks: Pressure to align with U.S. led supply chains.
5. Strategic hedging: Reinforces India's need for multipolar balancing via BRICS and SCO.
6. Autonomy assertion: India reaffirms independent decision-making under Atmanirbhar Bharat doctrine.
Implications for India's Strategic Autonomy
1. Conditional cooperation: Increased U.S. expectations may pressure India on QUAD commitments.
2. Technology bargaining: Access to U.S. defense tech linked with policy conformity (eg. iCET).
3. Reduced Policy Space: U.S. conditionality limits India's freedom on Russia and energy imports.
4. Economic dependence Risks: Pressure to align with U.S. led supply chains.
5. Strategic hedging: Reinforces India's need for multipolar balancing via BRICS and SCO.
6. Autonomy assertion: India reaffirms independent decision-making under Atmanirbhar Bharat doctrine.
Suggestions to improve:
- Can specify policy areas like India's stance on Ukraine conflict or continued oil imports from Russia as examples of constrained policy space
- Could highlight opportunities for India such as becoming a "swing state" with increased bargaining power
- Can mention India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as India's strategic response to conditional partnerships
What you wrote:
Implications for India's role in Indo-Pacific
1. Security provider role: India seen as leading maritime stability efforts (eg. SAGAR).
2. Maritime collaboration: Expands interoperability with QUAD and ASEAN partners.
3. Regional balancer: Acts as a non-aligned stabilizer between US and China.
4. Infrastructure diplomacy: Push for resilient regional connectivity via IPEF and Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative.
5. Global South Voice: India leverages G20 and BIMSTEC for inclusive regional architecture.
6. Energy Security diplomacy: Strengthens Indo-Pacific partnerships for diversified energy corridors.
Implications for India's role in Indo-Pacific
1. Security provider role: India seen as leading maritime stability efforts (eg. SAGAR).
2. Maritime collaboration: Expands interoperability with QUAD and ASEAN partners.
3. Regional balancer: Acts as a non-aligned stabilizer between US and China.
4. Infrastructure diplomacy: Push for resilient regional connectivity via IPEF and Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative.
5. Global South Voice: India leverages G20 and BIMSTEC for inclusive regional architecture.
6. Energy Security diplomacy: Strengthens Indo-Pacific partnerships for diversified energy corridors.
Suggestions to improve:
- Can discuss capacity constraints such as India's limited naval assets for extensive Indo-Pacific patrolling
- Could examine balancing act challenges between U.S. expectations and China's sensitivities in the region
- Can reference Quad's evolution from dialogue to operational cooperation as evidence of India's expanding role
What you wrote:
[DIAGRAM:
A flowchart starting with "Way Forward" which points to "India's foreign policy". "India's foreign policy" branches into three paths:
- "Multipolar engagement", which further branches to "QUAD", "BRICS", "G20", and "Global South".
- "Strategic resilience", which further branches to "Defence", "Energy", and "Technology".
- "Rule-based order", which further branches to "Indo-Pacific", "Sovereignty", and "Stability".]
[DIAGRAM:
A flowchart starting with "Way Forward" which points to "India's foreign policy". "India's foreign policy" branches into three paths:
- "Multipolar engagement", which further branches to "QUAD", "BRICS", "G20", and "Global South".
- "Strategic resilience", which further branches to "Defence", "Energy", and "Technology".
- "Rule-based order", which further branches to "Indo-Pacific", "Sovereignty", and "Stability".]
Suggestions to improve:
- Can add specific mechanisms like "issue-based coalitions" to navigate conditional partnerships
- Could include "technological sovereignty" as a fourth pillar given tech dependencies highlighted earlier
What you wrote:
The 2025 U.S. NSS underscores a multipolar burden sharing-era, compelling India to reinforce strategic autonomy, defence self-resilience, and nuanced-diplomacy in a conditional global order.
The 2025 U.S. NSS underscores a multipolar burden sharing-era, compelling India to reinforce strategic autonomy, defence self-resilience, and nuanced-diplomacy in a conditional global order.
Suggestions to improve:
- Can conclude with India's "principled pragmatism" approach to navigate the conditional global order while maintaining core interests
- Could reference India's G20 presidency success as a model for leadership in the new burden-sharing era
Strong structural approach with excellent use of diagrams and comprehensive coverage of implications. However, missed the evolutionary analysis demand and could benefit from more specific policy examples and recent developments to strengthen the argument.
Demand of the Question
- Evolution analysis - Shift from partnership-based leadership to conditional burden-sharing in U.S. NSS
- Strategic autonomy implications - How 2025 NSS affects India's independent decision-making capacity
- Indo-Pacific role implications - Impact on India's regional positioning and responsibilities
- 2025 NSS context - Specific reference to the latest strategy document
What you wrote:
The 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) signals paradigm shift- from partnership-based global leadership to conditional burden-sharing, reshaping power equations and alliance expectations worldwide.
The 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) signals paradigm shift- from partnership-based global leadership to conditional burden-sharing, reshaping power equations and alliance expectations worldwide.
Suggestions to improve:
- Can reference specific triggers like post-Afghanistan withdrawal lessons or rising defense spending pressures that led to this strategic pivot
- Could mention the "America First" continuity across administrations as context for burden-sharing approach
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