India and the World: Strategic Partnerships You Need to Know

India has become an increasingly important issue maker in an even more multipolar world. From defense partnerships to technological and scientific collaborations, current editions of India's foreign policy combine realism, assertiveness, and forward-looking diplomacy. The evolution of global alliances and partnerships not only transforms India's standing on the world stage, but also reshapes the geopolitical and economic balance of power across regions. 

Breakingnews focuses on the most powerful partnerships formed by India in recent years, and demonstrates how these push the needle towards defining global strategies and national interests.

The United States is one of the most consequential strategic partnerships. Beginning with the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, the partnership has matured to a comprehensive global strategic partnership, including even activities such as defense, cybersecurity, clean energy, and critical technologies like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The QUAD group - India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia - represents their collective commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. The recent launch of INDUS-X, a counter-terrorism and defense innovation partnership, further builds on India's defense manufacturing environment. 

Another critical strategic partnership is with France. France is India's most trusted defense partner and has always provided India with the highest performance military equipment, including the Rafale. The strategic military relationship also encompasses space cooperation, civil nuclear energy, and climate change initiatives. These countries are collaborating on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a joint effort to address climate change, to promote solar energy development.

India's historical relationship with Russia bold well into significant, especially in terms of defense. India has exhibited a careful apportionment of its diplomacy with Russia in light of global movement against public sanction from Russia causing shifts in their alliances. India manages to source critical defense equipment from Russia and additionally market energy products and minerals. Current realignments have seen India maintain its neutrality with respect to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and continue to allow it to 'pick the bones clean' in regard to strategic assets as well as regional influence. 

India has also experienced rapid expansion in strategic relationships with Japan and Australia. The partnership with Japan has allowed India to explore cooperation in high-speed rail projects, infrastructure projects, and digital technology. Relations with Australia progressed from trade relations to now cover issues of maritime security, education and critical mineral resources. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia builds on high-levels of military engagement in addition to technological collaboration.  

India shares an emerging partnership with Israel in agriculture, water management, and defense technology. Israel has aided India to develop high-precision drones, surveillance systems, and missile defense systems. The intersection of cooperation acts as both novel and aimed coordination for national security.

India has forged strong partnerships with the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East focusing on the issues of energy security, flow of investment, and well-being of its Diaspora. The recent IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) project which was launched during the G20 summit in New Delhi, is being described as a one off geopolitical reshuffle linking India to Europe through West Asia.

As Breakingnews skews a continued watch on the evolution of India’s diplomacy globally, it is apparent that New Delhi's focus is on multilateralism, self-reliance, and strategic autonomy. Collectively, these partnerships not only broaden India’s global footprint, but, more importantly, accurately reflect India's long term journey to become a significant economic and strategic power of the 21st century.

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