Question

Make any two basic concepts followed by India to maintain friendly relations with its neighbors.

Answer 1

1. Prioritising an integrated Neighbourhood first policy:

1. India’s foreign policy has always regarded the concept of the neighbourhood as one of widening concentric circles, around the central axis of historical and cultural commonalities.
2. India gives political and diplomatic priority to its immediate neighbours and the Indian Ocean Island states such as the Maldives.
3. Greater connectivity and integration is provided so as to improve the free flow of goods, people, energy, capital and information.

2. Bridging diplomacy and development:

1. One of the major objectives of India’s foreign policy has been to leverage international partnership for India’s domestic development.
2. This includes improving technological access, sourcing capital, gaining market access and securing natural resources.

3. A gradual transition from “Look East” to “Act East” Policy:

1. South-East Asia begins with North East India.
2. Myanmar is our land bridge to the countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
3. The purpose is to ensure a stable and multipolar balance of power in the Indo – Pacific and to become an integral part of Asia.
4. This policy emphasises a more productive role for ASEAN and EAST Asian countries

4. Economic development:

1. Currently, India’s political moves are being influenced by economic imperatives.
2. Many nations are moving to forge a better relationship with India.
3. Accelerated, balanced and inclusive economic development to achieves this by ensuring peace and security, and by leveraging the nation’s international partnership.

5. India as a leading power:

1. India is a member of the G20, the East Asia Summit and the BRICS coalition a testament to its status as a large country with a fast-growing economy.
2. India aspires for permanent membership of this UN Security Council.
3. India now has an increasing range of interests, which are anchored in different parts of the world and which stem from a wide range of factors (energy, natural resources, investment, trade etc.,)

New challenges forced India to adjust to new realities. Even then, the basic framework of its foreign policy remained more (or) less the same.