Europe’s Strategic Rise in India’s Multipolar Diplomacy

The year 2025 marks shift in India’s diplomatic focus towards Europe. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai, a new trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and ongoing trade talks with the European Union (EU) show this trend. Europe is gaining strategic importance in India’s foreign policy as the continent pursues greater autonomy from the United States. This evolving relationship reflects broader global changes including the rise of China and Russia, and the fracturing of the so-called collective West.

Emergence of a Multipolar World

The post-World War II era was dominated by a unipolar Western order led by the United States. European powers aligned closely with Washington, forming a united front against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. After the Soviet collapse, this unity expanded briefly, but soon frayed due to rising geopolitical tensions. Russia’s resurgence and China’s ambitions challenged American dominance. Many countries, including India, began advocating for a multipolar world to reduce US hegemony. This new global order is more complex and less predictable.

Europe’s Quest for Strategic Autonomy

Europe is redefining its role within the Western alliance. The Trump administration’s America First policies exposed deep fissures between the US and its allies. European leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz have called for a Europe puissante and a strategic shift known as Zeitenwende. The European Union now emphasises economic, technological, and military self-reliance. This strategic autonomy aims to reduce dependence on the US while maintaining cooperation. Europe is investing heavily in defence and diversifying trade links beyond the Atlantic.

India’s Engagement with a Plural West

India’s diplomacy is adapting to a fragmented Western order. The EU’s 2025 Joint Communication recognises India as a key partner in trade, technology, and defence. India benefits from Europe’s Indo-Pacific outreach and connectivity initiatives like the Global Gateway. Delhi balances relations carefully between Russia, China, and Western powers. The multipolar West offers India opportunities for flexible alliances but also risks weakening collective responses to global challenges. India’s internal reforms will determine how effectively it leverages these new openings.

Challenges and Opportunities in Global Realignment

The multipolar West is not a sign of decline but a rearrangement of power within the West itself. The US remains the dominant power but faces growing domestic and international challenges. Europe and Asia’s allies are recalibrating their strategies to manage China’s rise and Russian assertiveness. Defence cooperation is expanding across the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. Economic diversification and technological sovereignty are priorities. India’s role is increasingly very important in this shifting landscape, but domestic institutional agility is crucial to maximise benefits.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Critically discuss the concept of strategic autonomy in the European Union and its implications for global geopolitics.
2. Analyse the impact of a multipolar world order on India’s foreign policy with reference to its relations with the US, China, and Russia.
3. Taking the example of the European Union and ASEAN, discuss the challenges and opportunities in regional defence cooperation in the 21st century.
4. Examine the role of trade and connectivity initiatives like the Global Gateway in shaping India-Europe relations and their significance in the Indo-Pacific strategy.

Answer Hints:

1. Critically discuss the concept of strategic autonomy in the European Union and its implications for global geopolitics.

1. Strategic autonomy means EU’s capacity to act independently in economic, technological, and military domains without over-reliance on the US.
2. It emerged strongly post-Trump era due to US unpredictability and America First policies exposing Western fissures.
3. EU initiatives include increased defence spending (Zeitenwende), building independent defence capabilities, and technological sovereignty.
4. Implications include a more plural West, reduced US unilateralism, and a shift from a unipolar to a multipolar Western alliance.
5. Challenges remain internal divisions within EU (east-west threat perceptions, north-south economic priorities) affecting cohesion.
6. Strategic autonomy strengthens EU’s global voice, enabling it to pursue distinct governance models and hedge against geopolitical risks.

2. Analyse the impact of a multipolar world order on India’s foreign policy with reference to its relations with the US, China, and Russia.

1. Multipolarity offers India flexibility to engage multiple global powers without exclusive alignment.
2. India balances ties with the US and Europe while maintaining historic relations with Russia, navigating competing interests.
3. China’s rise and assertiveness prompt India to seek stronger partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including with Europe.
4. India’s diplomacy adapts to fragmented Western alliances, exploiting openings but facing risks of weakened collective responses.
5. Domestic reforms and institutional agility are critical for India to leverage multipolar opportunities effectively.
6. India’s multipolar approach supports its vision of a stable, balanced Asian and global order, reducing dependence on any single power.

3. Taking the example of the European Union and ASEAN, discuss the challenges and opportunities in regional defence cooperation in the 21st century.

1. Both EU and ASEAN face diverse member interests complicating unified defence policies (e.g., threat perceptions, economic disparities).
2. Opportunities include pooling resources for collective security, enhancing interoperability, and addressing non-traditional threats.
3. Challenges include external pressure from major powers (US, China, Russia) influencing regional alignments.
4. EU’s defence initiatives (e.g., PESCO) and ASEAN’s evolving security dialogues reflect growing regional agency.
5. Both regions seek strategic autonomy while maintaining alliances, balancing cooperation and sovereignty.
6. Technological and industrial collaboration in defence sectors offers economic and strategic benefits.

4. Examine the role of trade and connectivity initiatives like the Global Gateway in shaping India-Europe relations and their significance in the Indo-Pacific strategy.

1. Global Gateway promotes infrastructure, digital connectivity, and resilient supply chains linking Europe and India.
2. Trade agreements with EFTA and ongoing EU talks deepen economic integration and diversify Europe’s trade beyond the Atlantic.
3. Initiatives enhance India’s access to technology, investment, and markets, supporting its economic modernization.
4. They reinforce Europe’s Indo-Pacific outreach, positioning India as a very important regional partner.
5. Connectivity projects build strategic linkages, facilitating cooperation in defence, technology, and governance.
6. Such collaborations help counterbalance China’s influence and contribute to a stable, multipolar Indo-Pacific order.