The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) published a commentary titled India’s Space Policy: Between Strategic Autonomy and Alignment With the United States by Dr. Dimitrios Stroikos, Head of the Space Policy Programme at LSE IDEAS, on July 8, 2025. The piece is part of CFR Expert Manjari Chatterjee Miller’s project on India and the liberal international order, released under CFR’s China Strategy Initiative through its China 360° programme. It offers an in-depth assessment of India’s evolving space strategy at a time of intensifying commercial activity, military competition, and fragmented governance in outer space.
Dr. Stroikos notes that India’s space policy, historically rooted in developmental priorities, has entered a new phase marked by prestige, security, and strategic diplomacy. While adhering to core principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, India now seeks greater agency in shaping global norms amid rising commercialisation and geopolitical rivalry—particularly with China.
India’s space trajectory has shifted visibly since the mid-2000s. From satellite launches focused on meteorology and remote sensing, India has expanded into high-profile exploration missions, including Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and Gaganyaan. These ventures, according to Dr. Stroikos, serve as instruments of both national pride and geopolitical signalling, particularly in response to China’s space advances.
The commentary also highlights the increasing role of space in India’s foreign policy. Initiatives such as the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) and the proposed G20 climate satellite reflect New Delhi’s ambition to position itself as a provider of space-enabled public goods, especially to Global South partners. At the same time, India’s goal of operating its own space station by 2035 illustrates long-term strategic planning.
Commercialization is a defining feature of India’s current space approach. The Indian Space Policy 2023 and the establishment of IN-SPACe and NewSpace India Limited have opened the sector to private players. Liberalized FDI norms and the successful launch of India’s first private rocket in 2022 symbolize this transition. By 2033, India’s space economy is projected to grow fivefold to $44 billion, reflecting strong state support for a controlled but dynamic private sector.
On the military front, India has demonstrated increasing assertiveness. The 2019 Mission Shakti ASAT test, creation of dedicated defense space agencies, and development of SSA systems like Project NETRA underscore space’s growing role in national security planning. However, India maintains a public stance against the weaponization of space and supports a legally binding PAROS treaty, distancing itself from U.S.-led voluntary norm-making efforts.
Despite such divergence, U.S.-India space cooperation has expanded rapidly. Joint ventures in satellite missions (e.g. NASA-ISRO), astronaut training, and public-private partnerships under the iCET /TRUST framework demonstrate growing convergence. Still, Dr. Stroikos highlights India’s cautious but constructive stance on space governance, supporting efforts to reduce space debris while emphasizing the need for legally binding agreements and broad international consensus.
Dr. Stroikos concludes that India now plays an increasingly prominent role in the global space order. However, it continues to balance alignment with the United States with a desire for strategic autonomy and inclusive multilateralism, reflecting its postcolonial identity and leadership ambitions within the Global South.
