Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and its neighbourhood, Issue: Geo-political turmoil in Asia and India’s role.
Context:
The recent Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore and South Korea’s presidential election have shifted focus once again on Asia.
Key Highlights:
Significance of Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD):
- Major platform for regional security dialogue in Asia.
- Absence of China highlighted the intensifying US-China tensions.
US Defense Secretary Pat Hegseth outlined:
- America’s commitment to Indo-Pacific partnerships.
- Need for allies to increase defense spending.
- Critiqued the reliance on US military support.
French President Macron offered a European perspective:
- Emphasized strategic autonomy and balanced power dynamics.
- Encouraged greater European-Asian coalitions in Indo-Pacific.
South Korean Presidential Election: Victory of left-leaning Lee Jae-myung marks a strategic shift. It entails:
- More balanced China-US diplomacy.
- Departure from conservative policies of predecessor Yoon Suk-yeol.
- Focus on economic security, supply chains, semiconductors, and batteries.
Lee’s pragmatic approach aims at:
- Reducing ideological confrontation.
- Engagement with North Korea.
- Stabilising ties with China without jeopardizing US ties.
Key Global Trends and Shifts:
US Strategy:
- “Arms around friends” approach but wants burden-sharing.
- Military support not unconditional.
Europe’s Role:
- Keen on new Indo-Pacific alignments.
- Advocates for multipolarity and cooperation, not bloc politics.
Japan:
- Pressured to increase defense budget (to 2% GDP).
- Caught between strategic pressures and economic limitations.
India:
- Balancing act: Needs to manage ties with US, China, Russia.
- Faces a dual-front threat (China, Pakistan) with limited defense spending (~2% GDP).
Implications for India’s Foreign Policy:
Old Strategy Exhausted: Previous reliance on non-alignment and great-power harmony is outdated.
Need for Realignment:
- India must pursue strategic partnerships and military modernization.
- Must enhance regional economic integration.
- Builds flexible coalitions in Indo-Pacific.
Strategic Autonomy 2.0:
- More practical and multi-aligned.
- It requires realism and preparedness for rapid geopolitical changes.
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