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From hijackings and nuclear tests to strategic partnerships and global leadership, India has transformed its place on the world stage. But 2025 exposed uncomfortable truths about the limits of ambition.
UPDATED: Dec 31, 2025 20:46 IST
India's foreign policy journey over the past quarter century reveals three distinct phases. The early 2000s, marked by the IC814 hijacking and the Parliament attack, forced India to prioritise domestic transformation over global influence. Economic liberalisation under PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh laid the groundwork, whilst the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests under Atal Bihari Vajpayee asserted strategic autonomy.
The breakthrough came in 2008 with the US India Civil Nuclear Agreement, recognising India as a responsible nuclear power. By 2014, India had positioned itself for expansion, but questions remained about leveraging this influence.
Narendra Modi's arrival brought a new tempo to Indian diplomacy. His India First approach emphasised personal engagement and practical outcomes. The neighbourhood first policy, deeper ties with Japan and the United States, and seven visits to the UAE signalled assertive pragmatism. India became a Major Defence Partner in 2016, whilst the revival of the Quad cemented its Indo Pacific role.
However, China remained complicated. The 2017 Doklam standoff and 2020 Galwan clash, which killed twenty Indian soldiers, exposed tensions. India responded by accelerating border infrastructure and expanding naval deployments whilst maintaining global engagement.
India's 2023 G20 presidency marked a pinnacle achievement, with the African Union joining and Global South priorities gaining prominence. Yet 2025 delivered a reality check. Trump's 25 per cent tariffs hit Indian goods hardest, H1B restrictions tightened, and expected trade deals stalled. China relations remained superficial despite photo opportunities, whilst the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor's messy diplomatic aftermath revealed neighbourhood fragility.
The lesson is stark: warm embraces do not equal trade deals, and performative diplomacy has limits. India must recognise its contradictions, demanding democracy abroad whilst struggling with it domestically. The next 25 years will prove more challenging, but India's transformation from rule taker to rule shaper is undeniable.
- Ends
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Dec 31, 2025
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