The evolving dynamics between India and Europe mark the dawn of a new era in their strategic partnership, reflecting a shared commitment to addressing global challenges and fostering mutual economic growth. As both regions navigate geopolitical shifts, there is a growing recognition of the need for collaborative efforts to tackle issues such as climate change, security concerns, and pandemic response. The potential for enhanced trade and investment ties is evident, presenting opportunities for synergies in technology, innovation, and sustainable development. However, it is crucial to navigate historical complexities and differing priorities to establish a robust foundation for this partnership. As India and Europe explore avenues for cooperation, the editorial suggests that a nuanced understanding of each other’s concerns, coupled with proactive diplomatic engagement, will be essential in shaping a resilient and mutually beneficial strategic alliance.
Tag: GS Paper-2: Important International Institutions; Government Policies & Interventions; International Treaties & Agreements; Effect of policies & politics of countries on India’s interests.
Exam View:
India’s dependence on Moscow; Indo-French strategic partnership; Fresh look at European security and prospects for India.
Context:
Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Europe this week is expected to produce a bounty of new agreements, especially in defence and space, and raise the bilateral strategic partnership to a higher level.
Decoding the editorial:
India’s dependence on Moscow
- If India played a major part in securing Europe in the first half of the 20th century, Delhi withdrew itself from global security politics in the second half.
- To complicate matters, India found itself on the side of the Soviet Union in the great European divide.
- India’s growing security dependence on Moscow severely constrained it from engaging effectively with European security issues.
- Its strategic autonomy to criticise unacceptable Russian actions, like the Red Army’s crackdown on democratic uprisings in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968), steadily diminished.
- The fear of losing Moscow’s veto on Kashmir in the United Nations Security Council became a perennial justification for Delhi to bite its tongue on Soviet transgressions of the international order.
- India refused to criticise the Russian annexation of Crimea through military occupation and a referendum in 2014.
- India’s hesitation to call out the Russian aggression against Ukraine since February 2022 is part of the same pattern.
Indo-French strategic partnership
- It is the 25th-anniversary celebration of Indo-French strategic partnership.
- Defence cooperation between Delhi and Paris could contribute to Eurasian security this century.
- Recently, a contingent of Indian armed forces marched down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day celebrations.
- Nearly one million Indian soldiers in the First World War and two million in the Second helped secure peace in Europe at critical moments.
Fresh look at European security and prospects for India
The NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania
- It is expected to announce some significant decisions on Ukraine and European security.
- It will also reveal deep differences within Europe and across the Atlantic on how to end the war in Ukraine and build peace with Russia.
- French President is a good interlocutor for India’s much-needed rethink on European security as his views on Ukraine and European security are quite different from those in the US, Britain and some Central European states.
The war in Ukraine
- It will have profound consequences for Asian security.
- Russia and China unveiled their “partnership without limits” just weeks before Moscow invaded Ukraine.
- The important but unfinished debate in NATO on dealing with the China challenge points to the inevitable integration of European and Asian theatres.
France’s positions on China
- India would like to be aware of it since it has generated some controversy in Asia.
- India would also want to know how serious France and Europe are on “de-risking” their economic ties with China and diversifying their Asian commercial engagement with India and other partners.
Potential French role in modernising India’s defence
- Modernising the defence industrial base through the co-development and co-production of weapons is at the top of the dialogue.
- This would help reduce the burden on Europe as well, to contribute directly to Asian security.
An integrated view of European security
- The war in Ukraine has given India a rare political incentive to recalibrate its European strategy.
- For India, it is not a question of taking sides between Russia and Europe on Ukraine.
- China is already positioning itself for such an eventuality with its so-called peace plan for Ukraine.
- India, which has big stakes in European peace, could be an equally valuable, if not better, interlocutor between the West and Russia.
Reversing India’s long-standing passivity on European security issues
- The near-term necessity of working with Europe on the Ukraine question ought to be complemented by the long-term imperative of deeper engagement with European security institutions.
- NATO,
- Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO),
- The EU Intelligence and Situation Centre (INTCEN), and
- The Club de Berne.
Intense and wide-ranging defence cooperation between India and France today could contribute immensely to Eurasian security this century.
Source: Indian Express
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What factors are driving the emergence of a new era in the strategic partnership between India and Europe?
Answer: The new era in the India-Europe strategic partnership is primarily driven by a shared commitment to addressing global challenges such as climate change, security threats, and pandemic response. Both regions recognize the importance of collaboration in navigating geopolitical shifts and achieving mutual economic growth.
2. How might the strategic partnership impact trade and investment between India and Europe?
Answer: The strategic partnership is expected to foster enhanced trade and investment ties between India and Europe. This collaboration presents opportunities for synergies in areas like technology, innovation, and sustainable development, creating a platform for economic cooperation and growth.
3. What challenges do India and Europe need to address in order to solidify their strategic partnership?
Answer: Historical complexities and differing priorities pose challenges that need careful consideration. Effective diplomatic engagement and a nuanced understanding of each other’s concerns are essential to navigate these challenges and establish a robust foundation for the strategic partnership.
4. How can the India-Europe strategic partnership contribute to global issue resolution?
Answer: The partnership provides a platform for joint efforts in addressing pressing global issues, including climate change and pandemic response. By pooling resources, expertise, and diplomatic efforts, India and Europe can make substantial contributions to global problem-solving and promote international cooperation.
5. In what ways might technology and innovation play a role in the strategic partnership between India and Europe?
Answer: The strategic partnership opens avenues for collaboration in technology and innovation. Both regions can leverage each other’s strengths to drive advancements, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas, research, and technological solutions for shared challenges, promoting mutual progress.
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