In a fractured and rapidly shifting global order, India’s ascent as a major power is both a reality and a necessity. Yet, as the world grapples with economic realignments, security challenges and ideological divisions, India’s strategic voice remains underrepresented in global discourse. This is not due to a lack of vision or capability, but a structural deficit in India’s strategic thought leadership ecosystem, a gap that hinders the world’s understanding of India’s civilisational worldview, democratic values and multi-aligned foreign policy.
Indigenous Thought Leadership
India’s foreign policy is rooted in civilisational autonomy, shaped by millennia of cultural engagement, pluralism and strategic adaptation. However, India’s perspectives are often interpreted through external lenses, primarily shaped by Western think tanks, media and academic institutions. These narratives frequently misread India’s positions, projecting them as ambivalent or transactional, rather than principled assertions of sovereignty in a multipolar world. Some Indian think tanks are striving to engage with the world and project India’s position and civilisational approach, but these efforts need to be considerably enhanced as most Indian think tanks and policy forums lack institutional stature, resources, and global outreach to shape international debates. Much of the global narrative remains dominated by Western institutions, which are increasingly preoccupied with domestic economic challenges, internal political polarisation and mounting security concerns.
As the United States pursues an inward-looking “America First” strategy and reconfigures its global economic and security engagements including with longstanding allies, its strategic overtures toward India are often shaped more by geopolitical necessity than genuine partnership. This dynamic was starkly evident in President Trump’s weaponisation of trade policy in 2025, when the U.S. imposed a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports, targeting key sectors such as garments, auto parts and machinery. The move, justified on the grounds of India’s continued defence and energy ties with Russia, disrupted over $18 billion in trade, triggered significant market volatility and highlighted the use of economic coercion to influence India’s strategic decisions. India’s firm response reaffirming its sovereign right to maintain diverse partnerships exemplifies its commitment to strategic autonomy in the face of pressure. This broader context leaves a gap in which India’s nuanced worldview is insufficiently articulated, allowing external interpretations to dominate. Consequently, India’s rise is often viewed through a limited prism as a “swing state” in great power competition rather than as a civilisational state with its own strategic ethos. Bridging this gap is essential not only for India’s global influence but for the creation of a more balanced, inclusive international order. India’s foreign policy is not about alignment or dependency, but about strategic autonomy and the ability to engage multiple power centres while safeguarding national interests. This autonomy is often misunderstood by the West, whose approach is still anchored in alliance frameworks shaped by the Cold War and the transatlantic security order. India’s civilisational ethos promotes dialogue, diversity, and balance, enabling it to work with BRICS, QUAD, G7, and the Global South without being bound to any bloc. Yet, this complex engagement is often reduced to a binary “with us or against us.” India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy and a thriving democracy with over 1.4 billion citizens, representing a vibrant model of diversity, federalism, and civil liberties. Its economic rise projected at 6.8 per cent GDP growth in FY 2025-26 is accompanied by major strides in digital governance, infrastructure and energy security. India’s leadership in Global South platforms, its expanding influence in West Asia, and its growing strategic ties with France, Japan, and the U.S. highlight its role as a stabilising force in a volatile world. Yet, India’s narrative as a beacon of democratic resilience and economic opportunity remains under-articulated in global forums.
In a world facing fragmentation, India’s role is not just to rise, but to lead through values and vision. This requires more than economic growth or military strength; it demands intellectual sovereignty. To be understood, India must speak in its own voice; to shape the future, it must invest in thought leadership. Only then can India truly become a beacon of the Global South and a pole in the emerging multipolar world not just as a strategic player, but as a civilisational force shaping global norms for the 21st Century.
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