India's Strategic Autonomy and Multi-Alignment Foreign Policy
India's foreign policy has historically emphasised strategic autonomy — the right to make independent decisions based on national interest, without aligning permanently with any bloc. This principle traces from Jawaharlal Nehru's leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), founded in 1961 (Belgrade Declaration). Contemporary India practices "multi-alignment" rather than strict non-alignment — actively partnering with multiple competing powers (the U.S. through QUAD, Russia through S-400 and defence ties, France through Rafale, Gulf states through energy and diaspora, China through BRICS/SCO while managing border tensions).
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM): founded 1961; India co-founder alongside Egypt's Nasser, Yugoslavia's Tito, Ghana's Nkrumah, Indonesia's Sukarno.
- India's current multi-alignment: QUAD (U.S., Japan, Australia), SCO, BRICS, I2U2, IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework).
- India abstained on UN General Assembly votes condemning Russia's Ukraine invasion — reflecting strategic autonomy.
- India has not condemned U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran — balancing Israel ties, U.S. partnership, against BRICS Iran membership.
- India buys Russian oil (major importer since 2022 sanctions), uses Russian defence systems, yet grows U.S. defence partnership simultaneously.
● Tracked since March 16, 2026 · last seen August 09, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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