Why multi-alignment matters to India, explains Jaishankar

As a country with growing influence, India is pursuing “multi-alignment or multi-vector” policies, which allow it to work with multiple partners simultaneously on different issues, said India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at a think tank in Washington DC. This flexibility enables India to optimize its global position, working with the US on matters like technology and security while also engaging other powers where necessary.

Dr Jaishankar engaged in a wide-ranging conversation at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington D.C. with Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar. The discussion highlighted the evolution of India-US relations and the shifting dynamics of global leadership, with particular focus on the role of multipolarity, technology cooperation, and India’s emerging position on the world stage.

A Steady, Strengthened Relationship

One of the central themes of the conversation was the evolving and deepening relationship between India and the United States. Over the past few decades, both nations have built a solid foundation of trust and cooperation, particularly in strategic and technological domains. Dr. Jaishankar noted that “the story, if one looks at Indian foreign policy for the last, say, two to three decades, it’s really been a story of steady growth of India-US relationship.”

Tracing the origins of this growth, Jaishankar pointed to the late 1990s as a key inflection point. “I would say maybe to late Clinton, Clinton-Vajpayee, I would pick that as the inflection point. I think since then, it’s been steadily on the up,” he remarked. This period marked a significant shift in bilateral relations as the two democracies recognized their mutual interests in security, economic growth, and technology.

However, despite this steady growth, the relationship is not without its nuances. India, as a rising power with distinct priorities, maintains a balanced approach toward global partnerships. Jaishankar described India’s multi-alignment policy, explaining that while the US remains a “very natural partner” on many fronts, there are areas where India’s interests may diverge. This pragmatic approach allows India to engage with various global powers while ensuring that its strategic interests remain central.

Multipolarity and Multi-Alignment: Navigating the New Global Order

The backdrop of this growing relationship is the rapidly changing global order, which Dr. Jaishankar described as increasingly multipolar. “The world has changed… there’s ultimately a smell test. In the 1980s, when I first came here to Washington, so many more decisions would be made by the United States and Soviet Union, and often the two together,” he reflected.

Fast forward to today, the US no longer enjoys the singular dominance it had in the 1990s. “Today, if you were to look at any big global issue, it’s important to have to carry other countries along, and that, to me, is an indication of how much more multipolarity has become.”

For India, multipolarity is not just a recognition of global power redistribution but also a strategic opportunity.

Technology as a Core Pillar of India-US Cooperation

Technology cooperation emerged as a crucial pillar of the India-US relationship, particularly in fields like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure. “I see very strong possibilities,” said Jaishankar when asked about AI and technology convergence between the two nations.

India’s rapid technological advancements, especially in digital public infrastructure, have positioned it as a key player on the global stage. Jaishankar emphasized that technology is not just an economic tool but a matter of national security. “In a much more technology-sensitive world, I think it’s important to look at what your exposures are, how do you mitigate it, how do you balance it, how do you diminish the risks,” he noted.

The minister also pointed to India’s collaboration with the US in building a “semiconductor mission,” underscoring that “technology means people” and that India’s role in providing human capital is indispensable to the future of global tech ecosystems. This collaboration has deepened significantly, with both countries finding common ground on issues like data privacy and security.

India’s Global Role

As the conversation touched upon the broader landscape of global leadership, Jaishankar highlighted India’s growing role. He explained that India, while not a treaty ally of any country, is increasingly seen as a trusted partner, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. India’s partnerships with the US, Europe, and Japan have helped it navigate a more complex world order, where economic and security concerns are increasingly intertwined.

“We are in the middle of a nationwide 5G rollout,” Jaishankar shared, pointing to India’s ambitions to become a leader in both digital infrastructure and manufacturing. He also noted that this relationship between economics and security is becoming more interdependent, with technology acting as a central factor in ensuring global stability.

In closing, Jaishankar reaffirmed the importance of the India-US partnership, calling it “overwhelmingly strong” and vital to addressing global challenges. As the two nations continue to deepen their ties, India’s multi-aligned approach and its leadership in technology are shaping a new era of cooperation on the global stage.

(Kartike Garg contributed inputs for this article)

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