By Nadeera Dickwella

Photo credit – India Today – Geeta Mohan (New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 31, 2021 14:20 IST)

Many countries have been recognized as bridges between cultures that are polar opposite from one another . The once famed city of Constantinople or the modern day Istanbul was called the gateway to Asia for a longtime. From Singapore to Thailand to British Columbia have been hailed as gateways due to different reasons of their own right.  But in a divided world where geopolitical camps are becoming the new norm, no country could be called and elevated to the helm  as the True bridge between east and west than India.

A country of hundreds of languages, dozens of cultures, tens of faiths , billions of people there is simply no match to this subcontinent of a country in terms of diversity. With a mammoth military , robust economy and a young, vibrant population India is a rising star surpassing the industrialized G7 nations in an unbelievable phase. But what is way more interesting, praise worthy and attention seeking is its foreign policy. A country that was the birthplace to the world’s greatest polymath – Kauliya to revered personalities as great as Gandhi to Gautama Buddha, India is blessed with legendary diplomats that are some of the best gifts to humanity.

India has maintained an independent foreign policy since its independence from British colonial rule. Yet thinking of the fact that the Amercians picked the side of the Pakistanis during the cold war , it is rather fair to say that India was way more aligned to Moscow than Washnigton during the cold war era. Nonetheless as a beacon of independence it gave a collective leadership to the non aligned movement with Neru , Nassar , Tito , Sukarno , Sirimavo at the helm, opposing being caged to political blocs.

Times have passed eversince and the world is moving towards an unknown realignment of its own making. Today India stands on many fronts simultaneously, guarding its state sovereignty, national interest and providing the much needed leadership for the global south. Those fronts are opposing yet complementing and completing the Indian quest to become a member of the enclosed club of global powers  winning its highchair on the table.

India is a member of the QUADS. The quadrilateral security arrangement between India, United States, Japan and Australia. Although the organization is political in nature, it nonetheless determined to check  the Chinese influence  in the Asia pacific  addressing security of the region to a greater extent. India holds the Malabr naval exercise annually bringing various navies that oppose and make a stand against the Chinese naval dominance. India is a regular invitee at the G7 summit asserting not just its economic potential but also the political clout. Delhi gets invited to the Summit of Democracies hosted by the United States and vouch for the prolongation and protection of democracy as the way the world should engage. From Emanuel Macron’s intended visit to Anthony Albanese’s concluded visit to Olaf Solaz’s planned visit , Delhi is frequented by the top names of the west. Every visit by premier Modhi is treated in festivity irrespective of the capital being Tokyo, Adelaide or Washington. India purchases western military gear and western tech firms have a huge footprint in India. Most of the western countries attract millions of Indian migrants as their preferred destination. If you care to read this paragraph once more, all we could see is an India well within the western camp, adopting and following rules-based international order and a nation that is being subjected to westernization in a phase faster than their population growth. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

The same India is a proud and a leading member of the BRICS grouping that represents the polar opposite of G7 nations advising the creation of non western based financial systems and de-dollarization. India sits on the same table with Beijing in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization discussing and strengthening ties with EURASIAN leaders . Delhi maintains robust relations with the ASEAN members through  India-ASEAN Summit. While India has  strategically important , economically beneficial relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council members or the GCC including leading Islamic power Saudi Arabia, she maintains close knitted trade and security ties with the state of Israel.It has even established the  I2U2 format that brings the US, India, Israel, and the UAE on a collaborative grouping. While the G7 and United States escalates  the sanctions against Russian oil, gas and other commodities India is ramping up its purchase of the said Russian commodities at historical levels. While the west is increasing diplomatic pressure against Moscow trying to isolate it from the rest of the world, Russian foreign minister Sergi Lavrov is a well respected , red carpeted guest in Delhi. While the west lead  ICC issues arrest warrants against President Putin, India not only avoids endorsing it but also maintains cordial , personal level relations with the Russian leader. While the EU kicks out the Russian tourists and bars their careers from crossing the continent, Arfefot makes regular visits to dozens of Indian cities bringing millions of Russian tourists to India. Delhi does not forget to provide humanitarian aid to Kiev nonetheless. 

These paradoxical policies are evident to one thing. Delhi has woken up and is asserting its rightful place in global affairs and history. India through its well respected top diplomat Dr. S Jaishankar is slowly but steadily walking towards its destination. Having a bit from everywhere is not its policy rather having the proper share from everywhere for its own advancement is. Delhi is respected in Washington, in Brussels , in Johannesburg , in Moscow as well as in Brasilia. India is everywhere and with everyone in its own openness and limitations. From east to west, south to the north Delhi is becoming the capital of the globe allowing multiple systems to coexist bridging the gaps and holding the world together. 

PS: A detailed analysis of India will be available in my book on geopolitics  that is seeking a publisher currently.