UPSC Mains Practice: G2 Framework's Impact on India & ASEAN's Role
The article discusses how the emerging G2 framework between the US and China alters India's strategic calculus in the Indo-Pacific, requiring India to recalibrate its foreign policy through multi-alignment and engagement with diverse partners. It also highlights ASEAN's critical economic, strategic, and connectivity significance for India, emphasizing the need for sustained engagement despite ASEAN's internal challenges and China's regional assertiveness.
The article, structured as a UPSC Mains answer-writing guide, addresses two key questions. First, it examines the implications of the 'G2' framework—a hypothetical US-China condominium for global governance—for India's foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific. The piece traces the origin of the G2 concept, its revival amidst US-China rivalry, and argues that India must adapt by pursuing a strategy of 'multi-alignment': engaging the US, managing China, cultivating Europe, reassuring Russia, and drawing in Japan and neighbors. This approach, articulated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, emphasizes flexibility and the importance of India's standing in Asia. The article suggests that while India maintains a robust relationship with the West, its global influence increasingly depends on its regional posture and ability to navigate a multipolar world order. Second, the article analyzes ASEAN's centrality to India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. It outlines ASEAN's transformation from a political bloc to a vital economic and security actor, noting that 40-50% of India's trade transits the region. The piece details India's infrastructure and connectivity initiatives with ASEAN members, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan project, while acknowledging ASEAN's challenges in addressing issues like the Myanmar crisis and South China Sea disputes. The conclusion underscores the need for India to deepen engagement with ASEAN, leveraging historical ties and focusing on areas of mutual economic and strategic benefit, while remaining cognizant of the grouping's limitations and the broader geopolitical contest between major powers.
