India’s vigorous new foreign policy playbook

The hefty tariffs slapped by Donald Trump have prompted New Delhi to double down on multipolarity, the new buzzword in international relations. This has seen PM Modi undertake journeys to countries rarely visited by Indian leaders — and all with a sharp geostrategic focus

- ARCHIS MOHAN

Seldom in the last couple of decades — at least not since it shed its inhibitions overengaging with the United States — has India pursued a multipolar outreach tothe rest ofthe world with as much vigour as it has since June this year.

Inthe last four months, as it pressed itsstrategicautonomy, India hasrestored its proximity with old ally Russia, thattooin the face of US pressure. It has attempted to consolidate a thaw in ties with Beijing, but also proactively engaged with the island-nations of the Indo-Pacific with a shared concern about Chinese muscle-flexing inthe region.

Alongside, New Delhi has sought to diversify both its export markets and its supply chains totake on the twin challenges of American tariffs on its exports, and Chinese restrictions on Indian imports of rare earth elements and fer-tilisers. It has scouted for opportunities in Africa and Latin America for both.

South Block’s efforts to re-effortto put forth its perspective on Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in the aftermath ofthe April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack. The task became more urgent when US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Indian goods in May, and doubled them in Augu:

‘The Trump administration has since taken several other steps that have surprised New Delhi, such as hosting the Pakistani army chief at the White House, and increasing the fee for new HiB visas to $100,000. Former foreign secretary Niru-pama Rao, who has served as India’s ambassador to the US, told the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum that US-India ties would weather the current storm as the foundation remains strong.

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