Source: C Raja Mohan writes: Katchatheevu and beyond, islands and India’s new geopolitics (Indian Express, April 3, 2024)
India’s foreign policy is undergoing a significant transformation. This editorial analysis examines how India’s strategic focus has expanded beyond its immediate neighborhood, encompassing new regions like the Indo-Pacific and Europe. It also explores the factors driving this shift and the implications for India’s role in the world order.
India’s Evolving Strategic Landscape
- Exploring New Frontiers: Indian foreign policy has evolved in the past decade. Island states and territories, spanning from the South Pacific to the African coast, are now integral to India’s changing strategic map.
- Indo-Pacific Transition: The concept of Indo-Pacific has shifted from being seen as an ‘American plot’ to a focus on maritime strategies.
- Island Significance: Islands have gained prominence in India’s geopolitical landscape. Whether it’s heightened attention on the Maldives amid maritime tensions with China, or newfound engagement with resource-rich Papua New Guinea, India’s involvement spans from joint infrastructure projects in Mauritius to collaborations in the Indian Ocean with Australia.
Additionally, the government’s emphasis on developing the Andaman and Lakshadweep islands underscores their strategic importance.
Embracing the Indo-Pacific Concept
- Origin of the Idea: The concept of the “Indo-Pacific” was first proposed by the late Japanese Premier Abe Shinzo in 2007, during a speech to the Indian Parliament. He highlighted the importance of the Indian and Pacific oceans merging.
- Initial Resistance: Initially, there was resistance in India towards the Indo-Pacific idea. Some skeptics viewed it as an “American plot” aimed at ensnaring India into containing China.
- Formal Embrace: It took over a decade for India to formally adopt the Indo-Pacific concept. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s embrace of the idea during a speech at the annual Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore in 2018. The deteriorating relations with China, marked by several military crises, and the strengthening strategic partnership with the US were crucial factors in this decision.
- Institutionalisation: The idea of the Indo-Pacific region is widely talked about in India. The Quad, its institutional anchor, which includes Australia, India, Japan, and the US, is a strong group showing how these countries work together and share common goals.
Rediscovering Europe
While the “Indo-Pacific” gains traction, “Eurasia” emerges in India’s diplomatic language. Like the Indo-Pacific, Eurasia is significant, especially due to Russia’s influence.
- Eurasian Influence: Russia, bridging Europe and Asia, sees Eurasia as its natural domain. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, led by Russia and China, reflects this vision.
- India’s Involvement: India joins the SCO in 2017, recognizing its interests in continental Asia and fostering its relationship with Russia.
- Expanding Horizons: Initially focused on inner Asia, India’s interest in Eurasia now extends to Europe, marking a notable shift.
- Rediscovering Europe: In recent years, Europe has gained importance in India’s foreign relations, a departure from past neglect.
Trade and Agreements
- Trade Dynamics: Trade between India and Europe is on the rise. Despite the absence of a free trade agreement with the EU, there’s a notable increase in commerce, investments, and technology exchange. Europe ranks as India’s second-largest trading partner and third-largest export destination. Recently, India inked a free trade deal with the EFTA, comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
- Partnership Evolution: France has gained prominence as a bilateral partner for India, while Europe as a collective entity holds growing importance. India acknowledges Europe’s diversity, understanding it as a continent of regions rather than a political monolith.
- New Regional Focus: Various European regions are gaining significance for India, including the Nordic region, the Nordic-Baltic coalition, the Med 9, and the Caucasus. Plans for an economic corridor between India and Europe via the Middle East, along with developments such as the Abraham Accords and the Gaza war, are reshaping India’s engagement with the region.
- Integrated Perspective: India’s partnerships with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, coupled with its naval presence in the Red Sea region, are contributing to a more integrated view of the Middle East, Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and the Western Indian Ocean. These once-separate regions are now seen as interconnected.
Shifting Geopolitical Focus
- Revised Priorities: India is shifting its attention away from traditional concepts like “South Asia”, opting instead for sub-regional cooperation in the eastern Subcontinent and trans-regional collaboration around the Bay of Bengal. Pakistan is exploring economic ties with China through the CPEC corridor and seeking support from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to address economic challenges.
- Dynamic Regions: Regions aren’t fixed; they change based on politics and economics. Two new regions gaining importance are “Zomia” and “Khorasan”. “
- India’s Involvement: India is expected to become more involved in the evolving dynamics of Zomia and Khorasan due to their strategic significance.
Khorasan
- Greater Khorasan: This is a historical region in Central Asia that encompassed parts of what are now Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and even Pakistan. It has a long and rich history, dating back to ancient times. The name itself means “land of the rising sun” in Persian.
- Khorasan Province (former): This was a province in northeastern Iran until 2004, when it was divided into three new provinces. It roughly corresponds to the western half of the historical Greater Khorasan.
Zomia
Zomia is a term used to describe a vast, mountainous region in Southeast Asia. Here’s a breakdown of its key aspects:
Concept:
- It’s not a recognized country on a map, but a geographical and cultural concept.
- Refers to the highlands of mainland Southeast Asia, historically independent from centralized governments.
Characteristics:
- Covers a massive area (around 2.5 million square kilometers) across several countries like Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Inhabited by diverse ethnic groups with distinct languages and customs.
- Characterized by a shared history of resisting control by lowland kingdoms and empires.
Origin of the Term:
- Coined in 2002 by historian Willem van Schendel.
- Derived from “Zomi,” a word meaning “highlander” in several Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in the region.
Debate and Significance:
- The concept of Zomia challenges traditional area studies by offering a new perspective on Southeast Asian history.
- Some scholars debate the exact boundaries and argue for including other highland regions in Asia.
- It highlights the experiences of marginalized groups who have long resisted state control.