Why does India need friends and how are they beneficial for its foreign policy goal of rising to the status of a ‘leading power’ in the world? What kind of power is India today, and how does this reflect in its choice of friends and the forms of cooperation it engages in with these friends? What is the role of enemies in India’s friendships and how are enemies factored into India’s coordination with its friends? What do India’s friends get in return and how have their estimations of the value of India changed over time? Will India be able to juggle strategic partnerships with countries that are in opposite camps in a highly divided world, or will it have to eventually prioritize some friendships over others? Will strategic partnerships be sufficient for India or will international circumstances compel it to convert them into formal alliances?
Friends: India’s Closest Strategic Partners is a one-of-a-kind book on foreign policy and geopolitics that offers readers answers to questions which are key to determining India’s future trajectory in international affairs. The book covers seven major bilateral strategic partnerships of India. Relying on case studies of India’s ties with Japan, Australia, the USA, Russia, France, Israel and the UAE, the author argues that India’s position as a rising power in the current transitory world order determines its approach to strategic partnerships. In a world ridden with turmoil and uncertainty, this book shows how India is building momentum and presenting itself as a viable leader, a beneficial partner, and a dependable friend.
Review
‘In this enlightening book, Sreeram Chaulia charts yet new territory in India’s foreign, security and economic policies. His case studies of India’s friends encompass what Abraham Lincoln said about destroying enemies when you make friends with them, and John Lennon’s getting by with a little help from one’s friends. A must-read work for anyone interested in India’s ascent to the highest rung in the international order.’
—Lakshmi Puri, Former UN Assistant Secretary-General, and former Indian Ambassador to Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina
‘Dr Chaulia meticulously ties together India’s rise as a responsible and inclusive power with the need to engage with like-minded partners. The book makes for a compelling read for afficionados of geopolitics who want to understand the current state of play and India’s role within it. A timely and essential addition to the field of International Relations.’
—Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation, and author of
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