Sreeram Chaulia's latest book, Friends: India's Closest Strategic Partners, stands apart from other works on Indian foreign, economic and security policy in the 21st century. It brings together, in one treatise, not only the doctrines at play but also the variegated dynamics of seven case studies of India's valuable friends to illuminate the opportunities and challenges, larger purposes and thrust of India as a rising power.
Chaulia explains the intricacies of India's vital bilateral partnerships with Japan, Australia, USA, Russia, France, Israel and the UAE in the context of India's ambition and ascent as a "great power to be" or a leading power. The title, Friends, and the author's usage of Kautilya's characterisation of friendships in the epigraph are intriguing. But then Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken of India as a Vishwamitra, or friend to the world, and so this seems apt.
Can two countries be friends the way two individuals can be? Chaulia draws parallels, pointing out that a strategic partnership is akin to a live-in relationship and that an alliance evokes the exclusivity and commitments of a rigid marriage. Strategic partnerships give both sides benefits but also accord space to each side to pursue other friendships, as long as those are not inimical to the two sides' interests. Therein lies the crux. They must have each other's backs.
Recent developments in Bangladesh and controversies over harbouring and encouraging violent extremists against India are tests of India's strategic partnerships and highlight the need to draw some red lines, even given the tectonic shifts possible when governments change in democracies like USA. How strategic partners of India navigate relationships with Pakistan or China in terms of countering terrorism and checking threats to India's territorial integrity and security also calls for maturity and restraint.
This story is from the January 04, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Ranchi.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 04, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Ranchi.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hurting culture with litigation
Art comes under attack as a Delhi court orders seizure of two MF Husain paintings
One in 12 children exposed to online sexual abuse, says study
One in 12 children globally has, at one time or other, been exposed to online sexual exploitation or abuse, according to a new study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health on Tuesday, the first such assessment.
B'desh Ministry's Order Against Anti-Government Action Sparks Big Controversy
A Bangladeshi education ministry order demanding officers report institutions and pupils involved in anti-government \"provocative activities\" has been condemned by lawyers for challenging the spirit of last year's student-led revolution.
Centre Likely To Roll Out Labour Codes By Next Financial Year
The Centre is likely to implement the long-pending labour codes by early next financial year even if one state fails to wrap up the process of framing draft rules, as nearly all states and Union territories are done with finalising these norms, a person aware of the development said.
Elderly tied up, robbed of ₹12L cash, jewellery
In a span of less than a week, a 75-year-old woman was tied up in her house and robbed of cash and jewellery in Jaipur's Kanota area, police said on Wednesday, adding that this was a second such incident in a span of less than one week.
Married Of Free Will: Actor Modi A Day After Being Kidnapped
Actor and comedian Janhvi Modi, who was allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday evening from Shri Dungargarh market in Bikaner, sent a video to police claiming that she married the kidnapper \"on her own free will and was not abducted\".
First Tribal Girl To Pilot Vande Bharat To Dine With President
The twenty-seven-year-old mechanical engineer from Jamshedpur, Ritika Tirkey, will be dining with President Droupadi Murmu and over 500 dignitaries from across the country and abroad at Rashtrapati Bhavan during the 'at home' reception on January 26.
Stop stonewalling talks on Indus treaty
India has for long contended that disputes with Pakistan over hydropower projects on shared trans-border rivers should be handled through a graded approach as provided under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.
Manager, 2 officials of bank booked over farmer's suicide
A farmer allegedly died by suicide after accusing bank officials of harassing him over loan repayment in Haridwar district, police officers aware of the matter said on Wednesday, adding that three bank officials have been booked on charges of abetment of suicide.
NSE Adds 1 Cr Investors in 5 Months; Crosses 11 Cr Mark
In the Last Five Months, Daily New Unique Investors Have Ranged Between 47,000 and 73,000
