In the recent speed Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, floated the idea of an ‘alliance of democracies’. This article discusses its implications for India.

Two propositions on China

• The US Secretary of State laid out two propositions.
• One is that nearly five decades of US engagement with China have arrived at a dead-end.
• Second is that the US can’t address the China challenge alone and called for collective action.
• He mused on whether “it’s time for a new grouping of like-minded nations, a new alliance of democracies.”

How it matters for India?

• Both the propositions signal the breakdown of the relationship between the world’s two most important powers.
• They also reflect on the need to create new frameworks to cope with emerging global challenges.
• China, is a large neighbour of India and America, is India’s most important partner makes the new context rather different from the Cold War.

Concerns for India in the propositions

•  Many in Delhi would like to know if the current direction of China policy will endure if Joe Biden wins the presidential election in November.
• India must pay close attention to the unfolding China debate in the US.
• India also note the structural changes in American engagement with China over the last two decades.
•  Delhi will certainly avoid calling the group proposed by US Secretary of State an “alliance”.
• India would rather have it described as a “coalition of democracies”.

Idea of ‘Coalition of democracies’

• Over the last many years, India has become comfortable with the idea of a political partnership with the world’s leading democracies.
• India also supported past US initiatives like-Clinton Administrations “Community of Democracies”, Bush Administrations democracy promotion fund at the UN.
• Delhi has also welcomed President Trump’s initiative to convene an expanded gathering of the G-7 leaders.
• The idea of democracies working together has an enduring appeal for the US.
• India figures in this American vision is relatively new. So is Delhi’s readiness to reciprocate.

Consider the question “In the ongoing geopolitical situation the U.S. has proposed the idea of ‘alliance of democracies’. Where does India feature in this vision and what are the implications of it for India.”

Conclusion

Constructing a global coalition of democracies will take much work and quite some time. But engaging with that initiative, amidst the rise and assertion of China, should open a whole range of new possibilities for Indian foreign and security policies.

Original article:

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/us-india-democracy-china-cold-war-global-economy-6526409/

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