DPG Policy Brief
India’s Deteriorating Strategic Neighbourhood
Authors Brig. Arun sahgal
Date: August 28, 2024
The sudden removal of Sheikh Hasina from power following large-scale protests has highlighted growing political turmoil and socio-economic distress in India’s immediate neighbourhood. It is a matter of concern for India that even as Bangladesh struggles for normalcy, each one of the other neighbouring South Asian states are facing varying degrees of political ferment and economic decline. These developments carry deep national security and political implications for India.
In this policy brief, the author examines at length India’s troubled strategic neighbourhood, covering the political climate in South Asia, emerging great power competition, and strategic implications for India’s regional strategy. He also explains the political dynamics in South Asia as a classic “Shatter Belt” from the geopolitical perspective. Even after decades of independence, several South Asian nations surrounding India continue to be marked by political struggles for power, autocratic traditions, narrow visions of national identity, and outsized roles of militaries in governance.
The author observes that despite all adversities, India remains deeply invested in the region, respecting the independence and importance of regional states and doing everything possible to provide support to them without jeopardising its own interests.
He then goes on to examine the emergence of South Asia as an arena of US-China strategic competition. He outlines China’s outreach and growing footprint in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and sees the US as an increasingly involved player in South Asian regional dynamics. India has to confront not merely the reality of China’s inroads, but also areas of dissonance with the US.
As a rising power, India faces the multiple challenges of navigating regional “Shatter Belts”, balancing relationships with external powers, and maintaining regional stability.
India is following a two-track approach in its neighbourhood policy: strategic patience accompanied by outreach at the express request of neighbours, and building positive linkages in the key areas of finance and economy, supply chains, petroleum and energy. With their growing economic interlinkages with India, South Asian states are beginning to realise that alternatives to India are costlier for their own long-term interests.
The author concludes by suggesting a four-pronged strategy that India can pursue in South Asia, centred around political and diplomatic engagement; economic integration; maritime linkages; and security cooperation.
To read this Policy Brief Vol. IX, Issue 21, please click “India’s Deteriorating Strategic Neighbourhood”.
In this policy brief, the author examines at length India’s troubled strategic neighbourhood, covering the political climate in South Asia, emerging great power competition, and strategic implications for India’s regional strategy. He also explains the political dynamics in South Asia as a classic “Shatter Belt” from the geopolitical perspective. Even after decades of independence, several South Asian nations surrounding India continue to be marked by political struggles for power, autocratic traditions, narrow visions of national identity, and outsized roles of militaries in governance.
The author observes that despite all adversities, India remains deeply invested in the region, respecting the independence and importance of regional states and doing everything possible to provide support to them without jeopardising its own interests.
He then goes on to examine the emergence of South Asia as an arena of US-China strategic competition. He outlines China’s outreach and growing footprint in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and sees the US as an increasingly involved player in South Asian regional dynamics. India has to confront not merely the reality of China’s inroads, but also areas of dissonance with the US.
As a rising power, India faces the multiple challenges of navigating regional “Shatter Belts”, balancing relationships with external powers, and maintaining regional stability.
India is following a two-track approach in its neighbourhood policy: strategic patience accompanied by outreach at the express request of neighbours, and building positive linkages in the key areas of finance and economy, supply chains, petroleum and energy. With their growing economic interlinkages with India, South Asian states are beginning to realise that alternatives to India are costlier for their own long-term interests.
The author concludes by suggesting a four-pronged strategy that India can pursue in South Asia, centred around political and diplomatic engagement; economic integration; maritime linkages; and security cooperation.
To read this Policy Brief Vol. IX, Issue 21, please click “India’s Deteriorating Strategic Neighbourhood”.
