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COVER STORY JULY 25, 2025 | The Indian Eye 4

INDIA’S DOCTRINE

BETWEEN EAST

AND WEST?

As its ties with the US become complex, India seems to be recalibrating its foreign policy

with a renewed focus on regional alliances—particularly with Russia and China. How is New
Delhi pursuing a pragmatic, multipolar strategy anchored in national interest

OUR BUREAU

New Delhi / Beijing / Moscow /
Washington, DC
n a world roiled by strategic re-
alignments and geopolitical flux,
IIndia finds itself at a critical junc-
ture—balancing its relationship with
the West while deepening ties with
old partners like Russia and cautious-
ly reopening diplomatic channels with
China. The past weeks have seen a
flurry of high-level visits, summits, and
diplomatic signalling that point to a
recalibrated Indian foreign policy—
one that is increasingly multipolar and
grounded in realism.
While New Delhi continues to val-
ue its strategic partnership with Wash-
ington—exemplified by close defense
cooperation and counter-terrorism co-
ordination—it is also asserting its au-
tonomy by engaging robustly with Bei-
jing and Moscow, even amid historical
tensions and new geopolitical risks.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar among the SCO Foreign Ministers calling on President of China, Xi Jinping, in Beijing. (Indian embassy/ANI Photo)
A NEW CHAPTER WITH CHINA?
External Affairs Minister S. Jais-
hankar’s recent visit to China marked border, normalizing people-to-peo- at a strategic thaw. tition, and coercion” and emphasized
ple exchanges and avoiding restric-
the importance of de-risking the inter-
These engagements indicate that
a significant shift in tone from the tive trade measures & roadblocks,” India is seeking a structured detente national order.
post-Galwan freeze in India-China he posted on X after his meeting with with China, not driven by trust but by The Chinese Foreign Minister’s
relations. The visit, which included Wang Yi. necessity and strategic calculus. With five-point plan for strengthening the
meetings with Chinese President Xi This visit followed Defense Minis- global supply chains shifting and Chi- SCO, and his call for resisting protec-
Jinping, Vice President Han Zheng, ter Rajnath Singh and National Secu- na’s influence in the Global South tionism and hegemony, found partial
and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, fo- rity Advisor Ajit Doval’s own meetings rising, India’s decision to re-engage resonance in Jaishankar’s address.
cused on stabilizing the bilateral re- in China under the Shanghai Cooper- reflects a broader strategy of regional While Delhi remains wary of China’s
lationship and reactivating key diplo- ation Organization (SCO) framework, balance and diversification. expanding footprint in South Asia
matic channels. suggesting a deliberate attempt by In- India’s participation in the Shang- and the Indian Ocean, it recognizes
Calling for a “far-seeing ap-
proach” to bilateral ties, Jaishankar dia to engage Beijing at multiple lev- hai Cooperation Organization (SCO) the value of platforms like the SCO to
push its regional agenda and connect
meeting in Tianjin was not just about
els. Jaishankar’s call on President Xi
emphasized the need to address con- Jinping, where he conveyed greetings China. It was also a reaffirmation of with Central Asian republics, Russia,
tentious issues, particularly the pro- from President Droupadi Murmu and India’s belief in regional multilateral- and even Iran.
longed border standoff. “Incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, add- ism. Jaishankar used the platform to The SCO also provides a con-
on us to address aspects related to the
ed symbolic heft to the visit and hinted warn against rising “conflicts, compe- Continued on next page... >>

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