Bridging East and West: India’s Pursuit of Stability Amid China, Russia, and U.S. Dynamics

Oct 31, 2024

Vijay Gokhale, a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India and former Indian Foreign Secretary, and D.B. Venkatesh Varma, a distinguished fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation and former ambassador to Russia, dive into India's complex geopolitical landscape. They discuss the aftermath of the BRICS Summit and its impact on India-China relations. The duo explores India's balancing act between the U.S. and Russia amid the Ukraine crisis, while addressing intelligence failures and military strategies in border management, all underscoring India's emerging role in a multipolar world.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Border Dispute Outcome and Introspection

India achieved a satisfactory outcome in the border dispute with China, stabilizing the border and regaining patrolling rights.
Introspection is needed regarding intelligence failures, communication, and the events leading to the 2020 clash.

INSIGHT

Stages of Resolving Border Tensions

Disengagement, de-escalation, and de-induction are distinct stages in resolving border tensions.
India and China have currently only achieved disengagement, ending the immediate confrontation.

INSIGHT

Significance of Border Agreement Timing

The timing of the border agreement announcement, coinciding with the BRICS summit, might hold political significance, especially for Russia.
Lessening India-China tensions is viewed positively by many Global South countries.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

This episode unpacks several key issues that shape India’s role on the global stage. As India navigates the path to re-establishing stability along its contested border with China, Gokhale and Varma analyze what the recent BRICS Summit outcomes and new patrolling agreements mean for India-China relations. They also explore the broader implications of India’s balancing act between the U.S. and Russia, especially in the context of the Ukraine crisis and India’s role as a potential communicator.

The conversation touches on India's long-term approach to its partnership with the U.S., considering the upcoming U.S. elections and shared interests in technology and energy. Additionally, our experts reflect on the complexities of India-China economic integration, highlighting the need to manage dependencies in critical sectors while building alternative supply chains. Together, these insights provide a nuanced perspective on India's diplomatic strategies in an increasingly multipolar world.

Episode Contributors

Vijay Gokhale is a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India and a former Indian Foreign Secretary. He has served as India’s ambassador to China and Germany, with extensive expertise in Indo-Pacific affairs, Chinese politics, and diplomacy.

D.B. Venkatesh Varma is a distinguished fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation and has served as India’s ambassador to Russia and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. He brings deep experience in India’s security and defense policies.

Additional Readings

Stabilizing the Border: A Possible Way Ahead in the Post-Galwan Situation by Vijay Gokhale

A Conversation with His Excellency Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister by Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar

Crosswinds: Nehru, Zhou and the Anglo-American Competition over China by Vijay Gokhale

Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.

As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.

Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.

Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.