India’s west path to break geopolitical grip

India’s increased involvement in Afghanistan and its consistent pursuit of developing cooperation with Iran and Central Asian states are part of a broader strategy for balancing a geopolitical environment increasingly shaped by China’s growing power.

- Piotr Opalinski

This pivot to the West is becoming a tool for overcoming asymmetries and a response to Chinese actions perceived as building a “ring” or “string of pearls” around India.

In recent years, Beijing has strengthened its influence in India’s immediate vicinity: from Sri Lanka and Maldives to Bangladesh and Nepal.

Delhi needs a strategic “second circle”: a space that will make its trade routes independent from its neighbours, increase its logistical resilience, and hinder geopolitical encirclement. This logic is not new.

The ancient concept of Raja mandala, described in the Arthashastra, envisaged building alliances beyond the immediate neighbourhood—especially when neighbours are hostile.

A key element of India’s strategy to escape the continental “squeeze” is Chabahar Port, India’s largest infrastructure investment outside its borders in years, and its significance extends far beyond logistics.

The project, however, is not without risks. These include tensions related to sanctions on Iran, Beijing’s pressure on Tehran, and the uncertain situation in Afghanistan.