India is currently facing international criticism for some of its actions.
The “defence diplomacy” which is at the centre stage in the pursuit of its foreign policy, has helped India to stay afloat.
What is defence diplomacy?
Defence diplomacy is a term used in international politics.
It refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives through the peaceful employment of defence resources and capabilities.
In earlier years, India hardly looked at military interactions as a means to further the national interest. But, this has changed.
How is defence diplomacy helping India?
India is currently under international criticism, especially from the muslim world, for some of its actions.
At the same time, its economy has also been sliding.
Defence diplomacy has helped India to stay afloat in this worrying environment.
It has taken the form of frequent and ambitious joint exercises with militaries of the region and beyond, port visits by warships, and so on.
While with most countries this has been not very significant, with the US in particular, and with Japan, the interface has been substantial.
What is India’s defence diplomacy strategy?
The Indo-Pacific has been repeatedly proclaimed as a region of mutual interest and our understanding of the term is different.
The precise purpose of the term “freedom of movement at sea” is to counter growing Chinese influence in the region.
With no other country with which India has defence cooperation at sea does the term Indo-Pacific form the basis of cooperation.
So, the one significant element of our defence diplomacy in the last decade has been the relationship with the US.
This has revolved on our purchases of military hardware from them.
This having been said, if defence diplomacy has become a key ingredient of our foreign policy as we aspire to move up in the global power chain, then it is all to the good.
How should India’s diplomacy be?
With China, India share disputed borders and a tense security relationship.
With Russia, a defence interface that goes back six decades stands in some difficulty now.
In the Muslim world, Iran cannot be easily ignored, nor Indonesia in the ASEAN, or Bangladesh next door.
With these countries, India needs to increase its defence interactions so long as India recognises its limitations.
What would be the impact of defence diplomacy?
India’s profile as seen from outside is now increasingly getting predicated on domestic issues within its borders.
As India is seeking to emerge as a major power, its domestic issues must mesh holistically with the desired international image.
Defence diplomacy can only take India thus far. But, it cannot, by itself, overcome the negatives.
