- Strategic Autonomy: India’s Guiding Doctrine
India has a long tradition of non-alignment, going back to the Bandung Conference (1955) and the Non-Aligned Movement. In today’s context, this has evolved into “strategic autonomy”—the idea that India will pursue its national interests without formally aligning with any military bloc.
India maintains strong relations with both Western powers (like the U.S., France, and Israel) and Eastern nations (Russia, Iran).
India rejects entanglement in military alliances, especially those that could constrain its options in a conflict with China, a key regional rival.
- Why India Is in BRICS But Not RNKIC Militarily
BRICS is an economic and developmental bloc focused on:
Multilateralism in finance and development
De-dollarization
South-South cooperation
Infrastructure funding via institutions like the New Development Bank (NDB)
India’s alignment with BRICS helps counterbalance Western economic dominance without requiring military allegiance or ideological uniformity.
In contrast, the RNKIC axis:
Is increasingly military and anti-Western in tone, especially given recent military cooperation between Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Involves regimes under sanctions or global scrutiny, which India diplomatically distances itself from, even if it maintains transactional ties (like energy deals with Iran or arms from Russia).
- The China Factor
India and China have ongoing border tensions, including:
The Galwan Valley clash (2020)
Competing interests in the Indian Ocean and Himalayas
A military alliance with China’s bloc would compromise India’s sovereignty and strategic flexibility in these disputes.
- Russia: The Balancing Act
India continues deep military and energy ties with Russia, a Cold War legacy.
But India has not supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the U.N. and has abstained from votes, reflecting neutrality—not allegiance.
- Iran and North Korea
India has economic and civilizational ties with Iran, especially for energy and access to Central Asia via the Chabahar Port. But:
India also wants to avoid violating Western sanctions.
North Korea is diplomatically irrelevant for India, and closer alignment could damage global perception and trade interests.
- India’s National Interest Doctrine
India’s foreign policy under Modi (and previously under Nehru, Vajpayee, and others) is guided by “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (“the world is one family”) and “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (collective progress). Aligning with overtly militaristic or ideologically rigid blocs contradicts this ethos.
Summary:
India’s economic cooperation in BRICS is about shaping a multipolar global order.
Its military non-participation in RNKIC is about safeguarding sovereignty, maintaining flexibility, and avoiding entanglements that contradict its own security calculus—especially with China and the U.S. in the mix.
