COLD WAR 2.0 AND INDIA

Description

The ongoing geopolitical competition between the US, Europe, NATO, and Russia-China individually and collectively with Iran and North Kores, has given rise to a new type of Cold War that has attracted labels such as ‘New Cold War’ and ‘Cold War 2.0’. This has resulted in urgency and pressure to spend more on defence to respond to the changed regional security environment. The focus is on building deterrent capabilities through capacity building and security agreements-partnerships. In this complex situation, New Delhi has opted twin strategy of ‘strategic autonomy’ and ‘multi-alignment’. Furthermore, India has chosen a unique foreign policy approach of ‘equi-closeness’ which is helping it to pursue national interests amid enhanced strategic rivalry marked by Cold 2.0 that cuts across different regions.

Vijay Sakhuja is Professor and Head at the Center of Excellence for Geopolitics and International Studies, REVA University, Bengaluru.

Devender Kumar is an Assistant Professor at the Center of Excellence for Geopolitics and International Studies, REVA University, Bengaluru.