Centrality of U.S.- India Partnership, the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Quad

• In Event: Security Issues in South Asia

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the relationship between the United States and India has grown stronger, entering a new era of "global strategic partnership." This convergence is significant given the changes in regional power dynamics with China's growing influence and assertiveness surrounding India's border. India, as a prominent member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue-Quad, is strengthening its bilateral relationship with the United States and reaffirming its shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. However, India's keenness to be a part of the Quad grouping shows the deviant character of India, which is the founding member of the Non-Alignment doctrine. Also, India's close relationship and major defense partnership with Russia contradicted with Quad-a like-minded democracies group. There are some paradoxical points to India's Quad and Indo-Pacific partnership: Quad supports and commits to democratic values and bases order. At the same time, India is the largest democracy globally and has close historical ties with Russia, which is an authoritarian state.
The paper examines the question: What drives India to be a significant member of Quad while, at the same time, India has historical and deep relations with Russia? What is the determinant of India's behavior in policy change? The paper will provide explanations applying the concepts of strategic autonomy, neutrality, and multipolarity.

Author

• Indu Saxena, Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers