7/11/2015Why Middle Powers Matter to India | The Diplomat Image Credit: Flickr/ MEAphotogallery Why Middle Powers Matter to India Middle powers hold the key – economically and geopolitically – to India’s growth and security. By Karan Pradhan July 10, 2015 By the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed his first year in power on May 26, he had spent an unprecedented 53 days outside India—or almost twice as many as Manmohan Singh’s 30 days overseas in his first year as prime minister in 200405. Modi’s international engagements were a continuation of India’s foreign policy under the preceding Congress government. But he injected a new energy into the relationships with neighbors like Bhutan and Nepal, and major powers like China and the U.S.—which has been widely commented on. He also visited Japan and Australia, and is scheduled to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia later this year. However, his equally noteworthy engagement with these and other middle powers has been relatively unnoticed. Political compatibility Deeper ties with middle powers like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, and South Korea are important for India at a time when the magnitude of the United States’ global influence is declining due to the rapid growth of China and the improving growth trajectories of numerous middle powers. Collaborating with these countries can help India progress from being a South Asian power to an Asian and eventually global power. http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/whymiddlepowersmattertoindia/?allpages=yes&print=yes 1/3 including Saudi Arabia and an Iran that may soon reemerge from international isolation. and Modi plans to be the first Indian prime minister to visit the country later this year.S. India Joint Strategic Vision for the AsiaPacific and Indian Ocean Region.S. allies. Economic compatibility The potential economic and energy benefits of India’s partnerships with the middle powers are equally significant. India requires $1 trillion over the next decade to upgrade its infrastructure. signed by Modi and President Barack Obama in January. And all are potentially useful economic and strategic partners for India.S. influence is declining. and Myanmar are dependent on China’s financial largesse. and Australia; all are middle powers that are deeply connected to China economically. The Indian economy’s projected growth. which first provided loans to India in 1958. which also impacts India. these two countries constitute the “strategic diamond” promoted by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. Sri Lanka. A partnership with India will create more balance in a region increasingly dominated by China. Modi visited South Korea. while Japan is already invested in the DelhiMumbai Industrial http://thediplomat. Other Asian countries like Cambodia. India’s own sizable Muslim population has cultural and religious ties to the region. but are treaty allies of the U. Along with India and the U. Japan and Australia are integral to India’s aspirations of becoming a net security provider; and India and Australia have already signed a Framework for Security Cooperation in November 2014.com/2015/07/whymiddlepowersmattertoindia/?allpages=yes&print=yes 2/3 . Japan. His visit will be part of an attempt by India to engineer a threeway balancing of its relations with West Asian middle powers. China lacks the breadth of allies that the United States has.. India is now more open about its relations with Israel.7/11/2015 Why Middle Powers Matter to India | The Diplomat Even though U. have enhanced India’s status with many of these powers. They can be critical to the U. Apart from West Asia’s strategic significance in a region beset by Islamist terrorism. but prone to resist when the terms of repayment become too onerous. the oilrich region is critical for India’s massive energy requirements.S. and it will be endorsed by the United States. many of the middle powers remain U. with only two firm friends— Pakistan and North Korea—both globally perceived to be troublemakers. To the east. Japan is the world’s thirdlargest economy. Modi’s visits to middle power countries are aimed at strengthening partnerships in a changing global scenario. India has become the largest recipient of Japanese official development assistance. India also has a large diaspora in West Asia that sends home around $35 billion in remittances annually. and to India’s own strategic influence in Asia. and the Japanese public sector and private sector are involved in various projects—from infrastructure to manufacturing—in India. For instance. for which it needs foreign direct investment. Since then. along with the country’s Modidriven improved relationship with the United States.S. This article was originally published at Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. By deepening bilateral relations with them. Although major powers Russia and the U.S. the Wassenaar Arrangement. Companies that manufacture nuclear technology in the U. the Australia Group. it is Japan that holds the key to unlocking the IndiaU.S. France. a foreign policy think tank in Mumbai. Building skills is a major pillar of Modi’s ‘Make in India’ program. and Canada are members of the four technology denial regimes—the Nuclear Suppliers Group. With deeper ties to these countries. Additionally. are partowned by Japanese firms Toshiba and Hitachi. In the coming years. Karan Pradhan is a Senior Researcher at Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. civil nuclear agreement.com/2015/07/whymiddlepowersmattertoindia/?allpages=yes&print=yes 3/3 . India. Japan. and Canada to strengthen India’s manufacturing through skills development across various sectors like the railways. Modi must prioritize the UK. Nigeria. http://thediplomat. and Indonesia—all of which have deep historical.7/11/2015 Why Middle Powers Matter to India | The Diplomat Corridor project. An infrastructure buildout will also need investment and technology from such countries as South Korea and Canada. agriculture. Australia. The middle powers will also be critical partners for India’s indigenous defense production and to reduce the country’s defense import bill. India’s support base for membership to these regimes can widen. have been the biggest sources of defense exports and coproduction. cultural. and he has signed agreements with Germany. Modi can continue to build India’s critical partnerships with middle powers. deals such as the October 2014 one with Israel on the Spike missile defense system will help unlock India’s defense manufacturing capabilities. or economic links with India. in the long run.S. will help India and its economy far more than massive importheavy trade relationships with major powers such as the United States and China. trade. established to engage India’s leading corporations and individuals in debate and scholarship on India’s foreign policy and the nation’s role in global affairs. respectively. apparel. and healthcare. In his second year. Japan will remain crucial to India for nuclear energy.. like Westinghouse and GE. and the Missile Technology Control Regime. A nuclear agreement between India and Japan is therefore necessary for building nuclear reactors in India. These. While the deals India has concluded with Australia in November 2014 and Canada in April 2015 will provide the uranium.
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