Defence Diplomacy
- foster strategic partnership, strengthen military capabilities, promote regional peace, through joint exercises, defence exprosts, intl cooperation
- goal of becoming global defence exporter
Steps to strengthen defence diplomacy
- Indigenous Defence exports eg. BrahMos (Philippines), Akash SAM (Armenia)
- Joint military exercises
- Malabar, Garuda Shakti, Yudh Abhyas
- Strategic Defence Agreements eg. LEMOA
- capacity building: training foreign officers at NDC, IMA
- peacekeeping & regional forums: active in UN peaceeeping, ADMM-PLUS
Operation Sindoor
- Akash system aerial interception triggered export interest from Vietnam, Armenia
- BrahMos
- S-400 integration
- proactive posture: sent clear regional signal on india’s readiness to act beyond borders
- anti terror credibility
Challenges in defence diplomacy
| Challenge | Details |
|---|---|
| geopolitical pressures | china aggression, regional influence |
| structural gaps | lack of defence attaches in key embassies |
| incoherent strategy | country wise approach lacks unified regional or global vision |
| coordination issues | weak MEA - MoD - DRDO synergy |
| Resource limitations | defence budget only 1.9% of GDP |
| export hurdles | complex, lengthy procedures |
| Foreign dependence | S-400 imported |
Recommendations
- clear policy framework: align military coop w/ foreign policy objectives
- integrated planning: strengthen global military footprint
- post defence specialized officers in missions abroad
- neighborhood priority
- monitoring & audits
Global south
- refers to developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, sharing historical experiences of colonization and socio economic challenges
- india emerged as key advocate & leader for this group
History
- Brandt Line 1980: divided world into richer north & poorer south
- common traits: post colonial history, developmental challenge, desire for fairer global order
- India’s role: leading voice due to demographic weight, economic rise, proactive diplomacy
Significance of GS
- climate vulnerability
- S-S cooperation: shares soln on poverty, edu, health
- natural resources rich
- youth demographics - innovation & growth vehicle
- geopolitical voice: BRICS, G77 shape global governance
- Market expansion: emerging economies fuel global trade
India’s strategy for global south
- comon challenge: leads initaitives on food, health, inequality
- food securty at UN
- Vaccine maitri
- strategic ties: eg. India africa forum summit, AU Partnership
- S-S cooperation: Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC), SCAAP
- countering neo colonialism: supports UN reforms
Voice of Global South Summits
India’s leadership
| Domain | details |
|---|---|
| climate action | ISA, Global South Renewable Energy Alliance 2025 |
| Development Aid | Asia-Africa growth corridor, education [ healthcare] |
| digital diploacy | DPI |
| health cooperation | Ayushman Bharat Global initiative |
| People ties | 10k scholarships for african students in 2025 |
| Multilateral reforms | push for UNSC reforms, fairer institutions |
Challenges
| Challenge | Details |
|---|---|
| past ineffectiveness | NAM limited impact on policy outcomse |
| India’s limited resources | development priorities constraint aid capability |
| Internal disunity | pol/eco differences among GS |
| Western dominance | financial clout of North limits India’s influence |
Way forward
- developmental partnerships: expand corridor projects & scholarships
- climate justice leadership: advocate for equity in transition
- digital + health diplomacy: health tech, DPI
- institutionalize engagements: Voice of Global South Summit annually
- demand UNSC reform & equilateral multilateralism
- deepen scholarship, civil society exchanges
Climate Diplomacy
Use of international negotiations, partnerships & institutions to address climate change while protecting country’s developmental, economic and strategic interests.
Climate Justice
- historical emissions
- per capita emissions
- differing development levels
- differing capacities to act
Rooted in CBDR
India’s path
- climate finance, tech transfer
- capacity building
- importance to disaster relief
Voice of GS
- bridge b/w developed countries & developing countries
- climate negotiations should address
- climate finance
- tech access
- adaptation
- loss & damage
- just energy transition
- India undertakes ambitious action, but expect equitable global support
- draws focus on north south divide
Major climate initiatives
India seeks to export its development solutions for long lasting change, rather than merely negotiate obligations.
Strengths of indian approach
- normative leadership - placed climate justice / equity at center of developing country climate discourse
- moved beyond COP negotiations and created intl. platforms
- global south leadership
- development climate linkage
- multi dimensional diplomacy
- energy
- tech
- climate funding
- disaster management
Challenges / criticism
- coal dependence
- higher aggregate emissions, despite lower per capita
- climate finance gap from developed countries
- limited tech access, IP barriers
- just transition barriers - affect state revenue, energy intensive industries etc
India-climate-diplomacy
Link to original