Coming of Age: Evaluating India’s Rising Security Challenges
Side Event by the Ananta Centre
Munich Security Conference 2025
The Ananta Centre in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs hosted its first ever roundtable discussion on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2025. Attended by over 40 high level representatives from around the world, the discussion centred on rising India’s security and strategic priorities with Dr S Jaishankar as keynote speaker.
India’s security perspective, shaped by its geopolitical position and strategic interests, differs significantly from Western viewpoints. This discussion aimed to nudge participants to think about the global geostrategic calculus with New Delhi as the nucleus. Read the key takeaways below.
On Balancing Relationships with Global Powers
India’s relationships with global players, especially in Europe, the US, and Russia, are influenced by shifting global alignments. Concurrently, India’s long-standing border disputes and strategic competition with China require careful diplomacy and defense preparedness. India carefully balances these relationships to protect its strategic interests. This approach aims to secure its position without overly aligning with any global power.
In this light, it is pertinent to recognise that India’s relationship with Russia is complex, particularly in light of the growing Russia-China alliance and pressures from the West after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While some view this as a challenge to India’s security, India continues to engage with Russia to maintain strategic balance in Asia.
Defense, Energy, Trade, and Technology: Shaping the India-US Relationship
The India-US relationship is a cornerstone of India’s evolving security.Over the last five to ten years, all real advances made in the global security, diplomatic, and financial architectures deeply involve India and are reliant upon a very strong India-US relationship. The question is, how durable are these new forms of cooperation and diplomatic partnerships?
Technology is central to the future of the Indo-US. defense relationship. The Defense and Technology Agreement, established nearly a decade ago, has led to deeper cooperation, particularly in space, AI, cybersecurity, and biotechnology. This collaboration, beyond defense sales, includes joint military exercises, interoperability, and co-development of advanced technologies.
Within this context, the dialogue on technology transfer is particularly insightful. Take, for instance, the collaboration on India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), where General Electric is involved in providing engines. For the US, this transaction represents a sale, while for India, it is part of a broader technology transfer, contributing to the development of indigenous capabilities. This blending of technology transfer and trade shows the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships that are not always defined by a single perspective. A deal like this can be viewed as “increased sales” from the US side or as “technology transfer” in service of an asset “made in India” from the Indian side.
A notable development in the India-US relationship is the increasing willingness of the US to competitively export energy resources to India, recognizing the latter as an important market. Conversations on increased collaboration in nuclear energy, AI, and semiconductor industries have gained momentum.
In the realm of nuclear cooperation, there have been discussions about the potential for collaboration on small modular reactors, a key area of interest for both India and the United States. For India, the primary hurdle in nuclear energy has been its liability law, which has prevented foreign vendors from engaging fully in nuclear projects. As part of a broader effort to introduce private operators in the nuclear sector, India has reformed the framework to encourage international partnerships, with the US seen as a key player in this shift.
The advances made by India and the US in space will also give both a common operating picture of the security landscape in the Indo-Pacific if the two countries aim to further collaborate on indications and warnings.
However, the issue of market access and tariffs remains a significant point of contention. At the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, both countries have agreed to work bilaterally to address these concerns through treaty negotiations, with expectations of resolving these issues in the near future.
Evolving Security Relationships and Future Prospects in the Middle East
India’s strategic approach to the Middle East has evolved from its historical policy of non-alignment. Increased engagement with Israel, particularly in defense technology, and strengthened ties with Gulf nations like the UAE, highlight India’s changing priorities in the region. India’s involvement now spans beyond energy security to include defense, connectivity, and regional stability, with its interests diversifying across various sectors. India’s interests are no longer limited to Indian workers and energy, but has evolved to include connectivity, transportation, and infrastructure.
The conversation around the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) continues to garner interest from various global players, especially from the maritime and logistics sectors in France. Recently, there have been meetings in Marseille, where French and global stakeholders have shown strong interest in promoting IMEC, viewing it as an essential connector for global trade. While the regional instability post-October 7th has slowed some of the momentum, there remains optimism about the long-term potential of IMEC, as many countries, including those that have not signed the IMEC document, are considering its benefits.
A significant step forward in trade and logistics came with the partnership between India and the UAE, which is focused on creating “virtual trade portals” to streamline the flow of goods between Indian and UAE ports. The goal is to blend the physical arrival of goods with seamless handling at the ports to ensure smoother movement. This is a prime example of the type of practical and strategic cooperation emerging within the region.
Despite regional turbulence, the consensus is clear: once the region stabilizes, these initiatives will regain momentum. As mentioned in recent discussions, President Trump emphasized expanding the partnership to include the United States as a more active participant in the IMEC initiative, seeing value in involving the US in the broader context of energy, defense, AI, semiconductors, and even education.
Regional Focus: India’s Role in the Indo-Pacific and Beyond
The Indo-Pacific region remains another area of strategic importance for India, with the growing relationship between India and Australia being a key factor in shaping future regional cooperation. India’s partnerships with Australia now focus on a range of issues, including maritime defense, technology, and climate initiatives. India’s ongoing projects in the Pacific Islands—ranging from healthcare projects like a regional hospital in Fiji to space applications in Papua New Guinea—highlight its growing influence in the region.
The Quad has become central to India’s Indo-Pacific strategy andis now one of India’s key security partnerships. As for the broader Indo-Pacific, India’s involvement in multilateral engagements remains a priority, though it is careful to avoid overstepping into areas where other countries might have a stronger presence. This balancing act reflects India’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation without duplicating efforts.
India’s Economic Future and the Dynamism of the India-China Landscape
India’s economic growth is intertwined with its security strategy. Safeguarding trade routes and supply chains is critical as India seeks to become an alternative to China in manufacturing and technology. The European Union has shown interest in deepening ties with India, particularly as part of a broader effort to diversify supply chains away from China. India’s role in future global trade will be pivotal in shaping the global economic order.
When discussing the India-China relationship, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic, though marked by ongoing complexities. Despite regular fluctuations, both countries continue to engage in dialogue to maintain a delicate equilibrium. The relationship between India and China, particularly in areas like technology, 5G, and apps like TikTok, has seen some friction, but both sides understand the importance of avoiding an escalation. India’s proactive approach in developing its own 5G infrastructure and blocking apps like TikTok demonstrates its strategic intent to safeguard its national interests.
The next few years will likely see more “up-and-down” moments, but as both countries understand, it is crucial not to let these challenges derail the relationship entirely. The key will be maintaining patience and responding constructively to emerging issues, ensuring the relationship does not cross a threshold that would prove damaging to either side.
European Engagement and Future Trade Agreements
India’s efforts to engage with Europe continue to evolve. While the EU’s traditional approach to trade agreements has been slow-moving, recent discussions have indicated that Europe is now more willing to adopt a practical and urgent approach to deepen its trade relations with India. India’s recent engagements with leaders like President Macron and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez highlight the momentum building for closer cooperation.
However, India’s leaders are aware that these talks need to be fast-tracked. With the EU-India summit set to take place soon, the hope is that the conversations will lead to more urgent and practical trade agreements that meet the needs of both sides in the current geopolitical climate.
The EU has an interest in developing the economic relationship with India by facilitating India’s development as an alternative to China for industrial production. That will be contingent on the possibility of moving components back and forth over borders in the way it is currently possible in China. China’s benevolence in cross-border component movement makes it an easier destination for functioning global value chains—something India needs to make more attractive.
The Future of SAARC and Regional Cooperation in South Asia
When it comes to regional cooperation in South Asia, particularly through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the outlook remains bleak. The lack of progress, especially due to Pakistan’s promotion of terrorism and trade obstruction have made the SAARC initiative largely ineffective. India has made it clear that it will not alter its policies, even with changes in government in countries like Bangladesh. This pragmatic stance reflects India’s desire for stability and security in the region, which is vital for the success of any future multilateral initiatives.
Conclusion: India’s Expands Global Footprint while Geography Continues to Drive Short Term Priorities
India’s partnerships are no longer confined to traditional areas but are spreading to new, strategic territories. The development of the Mediterranean region as a focal point for India’s future diplomatic and economic efforts is a prime example of how the country is diversifying its international ties, ensuring its interests are well-represented in an increasingly interconnected world.
India positions itself as a leader of the Global South, advocating for developing nations in multilateral forums. As it strengthens its economic and military stature, India balances the interests of global powers while representing the aspirations of the developing world. Its growing influence in Asia, Africa, and Latin America reflects its expanding global footprint.
India faces the challenge of addressing immediate security concerns while positioning itself for a greater global role. While managing regional security issues with China and Pakistan, India must also enhance its diplomatic and defense capabilities to navigate global power shifts. South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific will remain central to India’s foreign policy as it works toward long-term goals.
As India strengthens alliances with the US, European nations, and others, the interconnected nature of global security becomes increasingly evident. Conflicts in regions like Ukraine, the South China Sea, and the Middle East have far-reaching implications.
In this rapidly evolving global landscape, India’s strategic foresight, adaptability, and diplomatic agility in maintaining strategic partnerships that promote mutual growth, innovation, and security—regardless of regional or global tensions, will dictate India’s role as a global player. As they seem to have done in the past decade.
Glimpses from the event:
