A domestic debate is underway in India over its foreign policy direction. In a Global Roundtable discussion, Wang Shida, Lan Jianxue and Lin Minwang said India's 'multi-alignment' approach has stumbled amid widening US-India differences and the Israel-Iran conflict. The renaming of the US Indo-Pacific Command and cooling of the Quad have left New Delhi feeling 'betrayed'.

Prime Minister Modi visited Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand within a week, while Foreign Minister Jaishankar travelled to the Caribbean and the Gulf before heading to New York. Critics say these efforts have had limited effect. Wang stressed India should 'recalibrate' its diplomacy and manage major-power relations more rationally.

Lan argued that whether under 'non-alignment' or 'multi-alignment', India must clarify the essence of strategic autonomy: adherence to international fairness and justice. Lin said to truly achieve strategic autonomy, India must stand with the Global South, reduce its attachment to the 'Indo-Pacific Strategy', increase investment in BRICS, SCO and other Global South mechanisms, and seek common development with countries including China.

India's foreign policy is wrestling with a 'multi-alignment' dilemma. Modi's recent visits to Australia, New Zealand and other nations aim to steady the ship, but a domestic debate on strategic autonomy has flared up. Scholars stress India must stand with the Global South, reduce reliance on the US and deepen engagement with BRICS and the SCO.

This sends a significant signal to New Zealand SMEs. India's annual imports exceed $500 billion, yet two-way trade with New Zealand is only about $2.5 billion, with key barriers such as dairy tariffs above 30 percent. If a diplomatic shift pushes an FTA breakthrough, companies like Fonterra could leverage this populous market.

However, India's policy volatility cannot be ignored: its 'de-hyphenation' from the US is more a tactical adjustment, and domestic protectionism is rising, with a recent surcharge on imported milk powder. SMEs should track FTA progress while hedging political risks through frameworks like IPEF.

Keywords: India, strategic autonomy, multi-alignment, foreign policy, Global South, US-India relations, BRICS, SCO, Modi, Jaishankar

印度国内近日掀起外交战略反思与辩论。中国现代国际关系研究院南亚所执行所长王世达、中国国际问题研究院亚太研究所所长蓝建学、复旦大学教授林民旺在“环球圆桌对话”中指出，印度“多向结盟”政策在美印关系裂痕凸显和以伊冲突中遭遇挫折。美国“印太司令部”改名、美日印澳“四边机制”遇冷，让新德里深感被“背刺”。

莫迪不到一周内连访印尼、澳大利亚、新西兰三国，外长苏杰生访问加勒比和海湾后赴纽约，但批评者认为效果有限。王世达强调，印度外交应“再校准”，更理性务实处理大国关系。蓝建学指出，无论“不结盟”还是“多向结盟”，印度需厘清“战略自主”的本源——对国际公平正义的坚守。

林民旺认为，印度要真正实现战略自主，必须站稳“南方立场”，减少对“印太战略”眷恋，加大对金砖、上合等全球南方机制的投入，与包括中国在内的南方国家共谋发展。

印度外交正经历‘多向结盟’困境，莫迪连访澳、新等国力稳阵脚，国内却掀起战略自主大辩论。学者强调印度需站稳‘南方立场’，弱化对美依赖并深耕金砖、上合合作。这对新西兰中小企业是重要信号——印度市场年进口额超5000亿美元，但新印贸易额仅约25亿，关键障碍是乳品等农产品关税高达30%以上。

若外交转向推动FTA突破，恒天然等企业可借机拓展这一人口大国。但印度政策摇摆性不容忽视：其‘脱美’更多是战术调整，且国内保护主义抬头，近期对进口奶粉加征附加税。SMEs需跟踪FTA进展，同时利用IPEF等框架对冲政治风险。

关键词: 印度, 战略自主, 多向结盟, 外交, 全球南方, 美印关系, 金砖, 上合, 莫迪, 苏杰生

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Source: Global Times