Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a non-Western power that has successfully deepened ties with both Western and Global South nations. Modi's approach has shown that a country can maintain strong relationships with multiple blocs without taking an anti-Western stance. This has enabled India to strengthen its diplomatic ties with allies and countries that may have differing views.
India's foreign policy is rooted in pragmatism, prioritizing national interests, economic growth, and security over ideological fiction or political fracas. This approach has allowed India to form alliances based on common issues and interests rather than ideological affiliations. As a result, India has established thriving relationships with both Western and Global South countries.
In contrast, South Africa is facing challenges in its relations with Western powers, such as the US, due to inconsistencies and perceived biases in its foreign policy trajectory. Adopting an approach similar to India's, focused on national interests, could help address these issues. India's government prioritizes serving its own people and improving the standard of living in the country.
India's strategic autonomy has enabled it to work with countries such as Iran, the UAE, Russia, China, and South Africa, while maintaining strong relations with Western powers. This approach reflects a confidence in platforms like BRICS for economic and strategic cooperation rather than as an anti-Western bloc.
As chair of BRICS in 2026, India ensured the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, emphasizing pragmatic economic cooperation and a closer economic partnership among members. This approach seeks to advance India's national interests while maintaining strategic autonomy, rather than being dictated by another power's geopolitical ambitions.
India's ability to work simultaneously with Western powers and countries like China and Russia demonstrates the value it places on flexibility and pragmatism in its foreign policy. This approach has allowed India to refuse to take an ideological stance and instead focus on advancing its national interests.
Kenneth Kgwadi, a Researcher at the Middle East Africa Research Institute, notes that South Africa can learn from India's approach. By adopting a similar approach, South Africa can establish thriving relationships with multiple blocs and improve the standard of living in the country, rather than creating enemies out of Western powers.
Key points
- India's foreign policy prioritizes national interests and economic growth over ideological fiction or political fracas.
- South Africa's inconsistent foreign policy trajectory has led to challenges in its relations with Western powers.
- India's strategic autonomy has enabled it to form alliances based on common issues and interests rather than ideological affiliations.
