India's Strategic Autonomy in Foreign Policy
India's foreign policy has evolved from Non-Alignment during the Cold War (articulated by Jawaharlal Nehru at the Bandung Conference, 1955) to "strategic autonomy" in the post-Cold War era, and more recently to "multi-alignment" -- maintaining diversified partnerships without formal alliance commitments. Strategic autonomy prioritizes independent decision-making insulated from external pressure, while multi-alignment involves cultivating a broad network of strategic partnerships simultaneously.
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM): founded 1961 (Belgrade), India a founding member; India continues to participate but NAM's relevance has diminished
- India's nuclear tests (1998) were framed as exercises of strategic autonomy; India remains outside the NPT
- India designates Russia a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" -- Russia remains a major defense supplier (S-400, BrahMos, Sukhoi Su-30MKI)
- India-US relations elevated to "Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership" in 2020
- India's participation in both the Quad (with US, Japan, Australia) and BRICS (with Russia, China) exemplifies the multi-alignment approach
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stated India remains "wedded to strategic autonomy" and that energy choices are "strategic decisions, not trade pact obligations"
● Tracked since February 08, 2026 · last seen June 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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