Editor’s Note
The policy of “multialignment,” a central theme in Indian foreign policy discussions, has once again become a major point of debate, thanks to recent geopolitical developments. The 50% tariffs on Indian exports imposed by the Trump administration and the SCO meeting in Tianjin, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside Chinese and Russian Presidents, have intensified discussions about the utility of multialignment as a strategy. In fact, this debate was triggered by the military clashes between India and Pakistan in May this year. The aftermath of the conflict, in which many of India’s partners were less than forthcoming in support of India’s right to use military force against terrorism originating from Pakistan, was seen by some commentators as an example of the failure of multialignment. Cultivated as a strategy to maintain strategic autonomy and diversify partnerships, multialignment today faces renewed scrutiny amid these recent global challenges and shifting alliances, with some arguing that multialignment is more important today than ever before and others disputing that.
This ongoing debate is reflected in the two interventions below. These essays present thoughtful perspectives on whether closer alignment with the US is the only way forward for India or if a more flexible, multialigned approach still offers valuable strategic benefits. As this discussion continues, we will be sharing more essays, interviews, and reader contributions on the topic. We invite short responses and insights, which may be featured in this ongoing series.