Indian Presence Amid a Broken Template of Geopolitics
Why in News?
As global geopolitics fragments into blocs, with rising protectionism, collapsing multilateralism, and great power rivalries at the forefront, India finds itself at a crossroads. T.S. Tirumurti, India’s former Ambassador to the UN, emphasizes that India must now punch its weight and elevate its global posture. Recent developments — including U.S. engagement with Pakistan despite India’s terrorism concerns, EU sanctions during trade talks, and China’s growing role in South Asia — highlight how India’s geopolitical playbook must evolve.
Introduction
India has traditionally embraced strategic autonomy, balancing relations across power centers while advocating for a multilateral global order. But that order is rapidly eroding. Alliances are weakening, institutions are failing, and powerful countries are increasingly pursuing zero-sum policies. As former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, T.S. Tirumurti argues, India must break its silence, move beyond reactive diplomacy, and actively shape global affairs in accordance with its national interests.
Operation Sindoor, Trump-era trade unpredictability, EU’s coercive trade practices, and China’s calculated moves in South Asia point to a world where India cannot afford to remain on the margins.
Key Issues and Strategic Breakdown
1. Operation Sindoor and U.S. Inconsistencies
India’s anti-terror operation, Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, showcased India’s decisive stance against Pakistan-based terrorism. It was revealed that the perpetrators were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, while India tried to globalize the threat posed by Pakistani terror groups, the U.S. contradicted India’s efforts.
In a strange diplomatic paradox, Donald Trump claimed credit for bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan — while simultaneously accusing India of using trade as a “weapon.” Moreover, while India had designated the The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist group involved in the attack, the U.S. also listed it, but with no matching diplomatic coherence in its Pakistan policy.
2. Trade Wars and Trump-Era Disruptions
India-U.S. trade suffered significantly under the Trump administration. While symbolic collaborations like the NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite launch occurred, Trump slapped a 25% tariff on Indian imports and pressured U.S. companies to invest only within the U.S. or allied nations.
Trump’s rhetoric aligned India unfairly with Russia, calling out India’s trade links as “supporting the Russian war machine,” even though the EU continued its energy trade with Russia during the Ukraine crisis. These unilateral U.S. decisions disrupted India’s economic interests and exposed its vulnerability to trade coercion.
3. EU’s Protectionist Moves During Trade Negotiations
India’s attempts to negotiate the long-stalled India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) ran into trouble as the EU imposed restrictive measures like the Carbon Border Tax and other regulatory hurdles. The EU’s stance undermines the very principle of free trade.
Tirumurti notes that this coercive behavior toward India — while the EU itself continues trade with authoritarian regimes — exposes the hypocrisy of Western economic diplomacy. India’s exports in key sectors like pharmaceuticals, rice, chemicals, and auto parts are at stake due to such measures.
4. China’s Strategic Expansion in South Asia
China has seized the opportunity to expand influence in India’s immediate neighborhood. Beijing is:
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Mediating between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
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Pressuring Bangladesh to revive the World War-era Arakan rail link with Myanmar.
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Engaging in talks with Bhutan, Nepal, and even India’s Northeast via proxy actors.
The Siliguri Corridor — India’s “chicken neck” — is again under discussion in China’s regional strategy. Additionally, China has deepened its military presence and technological investments in countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
China’s aggressive push comes while India remains diplomatically quiet, especially on issues like Gaza and the Israel-Hamas war, and thus appears disengaged in broader international negotiations.
5. India’s Diplomatic Silence and Need for Recalibration
India’s muted responses on major global issues — like the Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Gaza war, or even regional crises in Myanmar — have led to reduced international influence. While neutrality may serve short-term interests, it has undermined India’s ability to shape outcomes.
The article argues that silence cannot substitute for strategy. As India rises economically and technologically, it must also rise diplomatically — projecting a vision for the future of global governance that reflects its values and interests.
Challenges and the Way Forward
1. Reclaiming Strategic Narrative
India must stop being a silent observer and start influencing global debates. Whether it’s the UN, WTO, BRICS, or G20, India needs to articulate its positions more boldly — especially when economic sovereignty and national security are on the line.
2. Diversifying Global Partnerships
India should actively engage with Africa, Latin America, and ASEAN nations to balance overdependence on Western markets. These relationships should include trade, defense, digital infrastructure, and green technology.
3. Revisiting Old Alliances
Old formats like RIC (Russia-India-China) or BRICS must be re-evaluated. While China remains a rival, formats that offer India multilateral leverage should not be discarded. Even regional partnerships such as the Quad must evolve to include economic agendas, not just security.
4. Resisting Economic Coercion
The EU’s carbon taxes and the U.S.’s erratic sanctions should not go unchallenged. India must use platforms like WTO dispute resolution, build self-reliant industries, and promote “Make in India” for strategic sectors like semiconductors, defense, and renewables.
5. Crafting Assertive Neighborhood Policy
India’s biggest foreign policy asset is its neighborhood. From Bangladesh to Sri Lanka to Nepal, India must re-engage with people-to-people connectivity, infrastructure development, and shared cultural diplomacy to counter Chinese influence.
Conclusion
India today stands at a pivotal point in history. As global alliances fragment and economic nationalism rises, India must punch above its weight—not just economically, but geopolitically. The passive posture of the past will no longer serve its interests.
As T.S. Tirumurti warns, the global rules-based order is breaking. If India doesn’t assert its voice in rewriting the rules, others will write them to India’s disadvantage. Strategic silence is no longer an option. A confident, forward-looking, and self-assured foreign policy is not just desirable—it is necessary.
Questions and Answers Section
Q1. What was the significance of Operation Sindoor in India’s foreign policy narrative?
A1. Operation Sindoor was a decisive military response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, specifically the Pahalgam attack. It exposed Pakistan’s support for terror groups and highlighted India’s resolve to act decisively. However, global reactions, particularly from the U.S., were inconsistent with India’s expectations.
Q2. How did Donald Trump’s trade policies affect India?
A2. Trump imposed tariffs on Indian goods, accused India of aiding the “Russian war machine,” and discouraged U.S. companies from investing in India. These erratic policies strained Indo-U.S. economic ties and showed the limitations of relying too heavily on any one global partner.
Q3. Why is the EU’s role in BTIA negotiations seen as problematic for India?
A3. The EU imposed coercive measures such as carbon border taxes during trade talks, signaling a preference for regulatory pressure over fair negotiation. This undermined trust and put critical Indian exports at risk.
Q4. What is China doing to expand influence in South Asia?
A4. China is mediating between South Asian countries, reviving old infrastructure links, and increasing military and economic presence in the region. This strategic expansion aims to marginalize India and enhance Beijing’s control over critical trade and security routes.
Q5. What are the key recommendations for India to recalibrate its global strategy?
A5. India must:
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Reclaim its narrative on global platforms.
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Engage more deeply with the Global South.
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Diversify trade and diplomatic ties.
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Push back against coercive economic measures.
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Reassert leadership in its immediate neighborhood.
