Indian Diplomacy: Discover how India’s current leaders use strategic neutrality and autonomy to navigate crises like the Ukraine war and Middle East tensions. This report explains Indian Diplomacy under PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar, highlighting its peace-driven stance, global respect, and the impact on everyday Indians.
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In a world beset by wars and crises, Indian Diplomacy has become increasingly crucial. India finds itself at a pivotal moment: as conflicts rage in Europe and West Asia, New Delhi must protect its national interests – energy security, citizens’ safety abroad, economic stability – while navigating great-power rivalries. Analysts note that foreign policy is now “a hallmark of the campaign” for India’s leaders, as the country aims “to become a key player in an increasingly multipolar world order”.
In this war-stricken geopolitical landscape, India’s emphasis on strategic neutrality and non-alignment guides its approach. It strives to maintain friendly ties with all sides, push for dialogue, and uphold international law, even as it asserts its voice on global platforms. For example, a recent commentary observed that “India finds itself at a pivotal moment” where its “diplomatic balancing act is under the spotlight” as world powers seek to shape outcomes in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. This report examines how today’s Indian leaders – from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and other diplomats – are executing this balancing act. We’ll see how India’s foreign policy preserves strategic autonomy, safeguards Indians’ interests (like fuel prices and citizens abroad), and earns New Delhi respect in forums like the UN and G20.
India’s Strategic Neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine War
India has pursued a careful neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing dialogue and peace for both sides. As EAM Jaishankar explained in 2024, India “does not impose sanctions on any country” — that is simply “not part of our diplomacy” — even while it consistently “meant well by Ukraine” and hoped the conflict would end. In other words, India wants “both sides to work out a solution” without taking sides militarily. Jaishankar noted that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy understood India’s intentions; Zelenskyy publicly acknowledged that Modi had conveyed India’s goodwill and the shared desire for peace. New Delhi also recalls its longstanding policy: respecting all countries’ sovereignty and urging an “immediate cessation of violence and hostilities” through diplomacy. For instance, India has consistently abstained from UN votes condemning Russia, instead issuing statements calling for restraint and talks. This “studied neutrality” reflects New Delhi’s assessment of its national interest. In Parliament and international forums, officials echo this line: as one report summarized, India stresses that peace “must have a solution involving both sides” and that it remains “in contact with both Russia and Ukraine”.
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At the same time, India has maintained practical ties with both camps. New Delhi has boosted energy and defense cooperation with Russia, while also deepening its partnerships with Europe, America, and Ukraine,Indian Diplomacy. In July 2024, PM Modi visited Moscow and set an ambitious goal to raise India-Russia trade to $100 billion by 2030, focusing heavily on oil, gas, and nuclear deals. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra stated that India would seek partnerships with Russia’s oil giant Rosneft and others, recognizing that Russia is now India’s top oil supplier. Indeed, since early 2022 India has dramatically increased its purchase of discounted Russian crude – reportedly over 40% of India’s oil imports by mid-2024 came from Russia.
Jaishankar has even welcomed elements of US policy (like its tech push) as opportunities, while continuing to deflect any notion of breaking ties with Moscow. This “multi-alignment” approach – engaging both Washington and Moscow, as well as Beijing and others – is by design. As one expert put it, India’s leaders aim to exploit “the opportunities created by global contradictions” and “extract as much [gain] from as many ties as possible”. In short, India leverages its relationships without fully aligning, pursuing its own path of strategic autonomy.
This stance directly affects ordinary Indians. For example, India’s large import of cheap Russian oil helps keep fuel and electricity prices lower at home. It is a key reason New Delhi resists any policy (such as Western sanctions) that would sharply cut that oil supply. Conversely, when the war threatens to spook energy markets, India feels the impact. In mid-2025, global oil jumped about 7% after a round of Israel-Iran strikes (with concern over supply in the region). Such volatility would translate to higher petrol and gas bills for Indian consumers. Moreover, India’s arms deals with Russia ensure steady supplies for the military, while Western partnerships (e.g. with the U.S., France, Israel) are also diversifying India’s defense imports. Geopolitically, India’s position helps it retain Russia’s goodwill on Asian security issues. As an analysis noted, India has chosen to avoid openly angering Russia to prevent Moscow from tilting more towards China or Pakistan.
Meanwhile, New Delhi remains active in diplomacy. Early in the war, the government organized one of the world’s biggest evacuations of citizens from Ukraine – over 20,000 Indians (mostly students) were airlifted out of Kyiv and other cities in March 2022. PM Modi personally spoke with both Putin and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy during that crisis to arrange safe passage of these students. This effort underscored India’s concern for its people abroad and its ability to work simultaneously with both sides. In ongoing negotiations, India continues to offer to mediate or host talks if needed, reflecting a self-image not of passive neutrality but of constructive peacemaker.
Indian Diplomacy Key points in the Russia-Ukraine context:
- India’s leaders (PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar) have repeatedly urged all parties to the war to negotiate and end hostilities. India refuses to impose sanctions on Moscow while also affirming respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
- New Delhi maintains military and energy ties with Russia (e.g. aiming for major oil deals) even as it engages closely with Western democracies through forums like the Quad. This “multi-alignment” lets India maximize its strategic space.
- India actively protects its citizens: it evacuated thousands of Indian students from Ukraine in 2022 and remains in contact with both governments to assist Indians abroad.
- Economically, cheap Russian oil imports help India’s economy, but supply disruptions can raise global prices (and hence Indian fuel costs) quickly.
- Observers note India’s balancing act has given it credibility; one commentator says India is now seen as “a neutral and credible voice in global diplomacy,” helped by its prominent role (like India’s G20 presidency).
Indian Diplomacy Balancing Act in the Middle East: Iran-Israel Crisis
India’s India foreign policy also walks a tightrope in the Middle East, where conflicts like the recent Iran-Israel clashes test its traditional balancing. Delhi has close ties with Israel (a key defense partner and source of high-tech goods) and with Iran (a longtime oil supplier and partner on projects like Chabahar port). When tensions rose – as Israel and Iran traded strikes – India swiftly urged all parties to de-escalate. The MEA publicly “urged avoidance of escalatory steps” and an “early return to diplomacy,” stressing that India has “close and friendly relations with both countries”. EAM Jaishankar personally spoke with the Iranian foreign minister and Israel’s envoy in quick succession, pressing for calm. He emphasized that India “stands ready to extend all possible support” to either side if needed.
New Delhi’s actions reveal its caution. For instance, India withdrew from a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders that condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran – effectively distancing itself from a statement that might have alienated its Israeli ties. Similarly, in October 2023 India chose to abstain from a UN General Assembly vote calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, again indicating it would not join consensus if the language conflicted with its interests. These choices reflect India’s priority of not fully backing one side against the other. As one analyst put it, New Delhi has “maintained a delicate balancing act” between Israel and Iran, influenced by its defense purchases from Israel and energy ties with Iran. India is literally Israel’s biggest buyer of weapons, while also building Iran’s key port infrastructure. Another expert noted that India routinely juggles rival pairings – US vs. Russia, Israel vs. Palestine, Saudi vs. Iran – in service of a pragmatic foreign policy.
This balancing is important for many Indians. Millions of Indian professionals and workers live in West Asia (including Israel, the Gulf, and elsewhere). New Delhi must protect them and ensure steady remittances and energy supplies. For example, when the Iran-Israel conflict flared in June 2025, the Indian Embassy in Tehran immediately issued an advisory: all Indian nationals in Tehran were asked to register their contact details and move to safer areas. The Ministry of External Affairs even arranged for over 100 medical students (mostly from Kashmir) to cross from Iran into Armenia to escape the fighting. Such steps show Indian diplomacy in action, prioritizing citizen safety over politics.
Economically, turmoil in West Asia can directly affect India. Crude oil prices are highly sensitive to Middle East instability. Indeed, oil prices spiked globally after Israel’s 2025 strike on Iran, as investors feared supply disruptions. Any sustained conflict could threaten India’s fuel imports, raising costs at home. By keeping diplomatic channels open with both Israel and Iran, India helps moderate tensions that could otherwise hit its economy. Moreover, by pushing for dialogue (as Jaishankar did repeatedly) India aligns with international calls for peace. Just as in Ukraine, India positions itself as urging negotiation rather than confrontation.
Key elements of India’s Middle East diplomacy:
- Calls for calm and dialogue: India urged Israel and Iran to avoid further violence and seek a diplomatic path. It publicly affirmed good relations with both and said it would support peaceful solutions.
- Neutral posturing: India did not join a statement condemning one side over the other at the SCO summit, and even abstained on certain UN votes, signaling it won’t be boxed into siding explicitly.
- Protecting citizens: The MEA has actively coordinated evacuations and safety measures for Indians in conflict zones. Advisories in Tehran and rescue of students in 2025 are recent examples.
- Economic interests: By maintaining ties with Iran, India secures alternate oil sources, while its deep trade relationship with Israel brings technology and defense benefits. Both matter for Indian consumers and industry. Global reports note this dual dependence – weapons from Israel, oil from Iran – and praise India’s ability to “balance ties with rival pairings” successfully.
- Image of a mediator: India’s cautious neutrality has earned it a reputation (abroad and at home) as a potential honest broker. By championing “restraint” and raising concerns of the Global South, India projects an image of a responsible middle power.
India’s Global Image and Role at the UN
On the international stage, India in global conflicts is seen as a voice of the global South and a builder of peace. One arena where India shines is the United Nations. India has a proud track record in UN peacekeeping: it has contributed nearly 300,000 troops to UN missions since the 1950s, and today over 5,000 Indian soldiers are deployed across multiple conflict zones. India has even lost over 180 peacekeepers in service of UN missions – the highest toll of any country – underscoring the nation’s commitment to global security. In 2007 India made history by sending the first all-women police unit to Liberia, and it continues to train thousands of officers (from India and other developing countries) in UN peacekeeping through its Delhi institute. These contributions have been noted by UN officials and media: India is regularly called “a very important supporter of peacekeeping” from a Global South perspective.
Indian Diplomacy also plays a leadership role in proposing global initiatives. In 2021, India spearheaded a UN Security Council resolution on the protection of peacekeepers and donated hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines for UN missions worldwide. New Delhi champions issues like gender equality (hosting the first-ever conference on women peacekeepers in 2025) and has pressed for reforms to give developing nations a bigger voice. This image of a Global South leader is reinforced by India’s diplomatic efforts: for instance, Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s role as a “Vishwaguru” (teacher to the world) at the 2023 G20 summit, emphasizing its commitment to welfare and inclusive growth.
India’s standing at the UN is further evidenced by broad support for its election to leadership positions. In 2020 India won a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council with an overwhelming 184 out of 193 votes. That result reflected growing international backing for India to have more say in global governance. As an Indian diplomat noted at the time, “we are entering the UN Security Council at a crucial juncture when multilateralism needs reform to remain relevant”. Many member states now openly endorse India’s case for permanent Security Council membership, arguing that the world’s most populous democracy must have a larger role in the “21st-century reality”. India’s position on issues like climate change and development also resonates: it often highlights the needs of poorer nations (as during climate talks) and frames its diplomacy with slogans like Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”), which foreign audiences associate with India’s cooperative ethos.
In summary, on global platforms India has built an image as a responsible power that contributes tangible support to peace and development,Indian Diplomacy. It leverages this stature to push for multipolar governance. As one analysis put it, India’s rise as a democracy with global reach has become “a big win for Modi in the eyes of many Indian voters” and a point of pride in how the world sees India.
Leadership and Vision: Role of Today’s Indian Diplomats
India’s current diplomatic strategy is driven top-down by its leaders and senior officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM S. Jaishankar have become the faces of Indian diplomacy in recent years, delivering its message directly at summits and in the press. Modi’s global engagements – from hosting the G20 to bilateral visits – reflect a confident foreign policy vision. For example, during India’s 2023 G20 presidency Modi frequently invoked India’s civilizational ethos and welfare orientation, casting India as a “Vishwaguru” working for the “happiness of all humanity”. He has also spoken bluntly on war, famously telling both Putin and Zelensky on a podcast that “this is not the era of war” and that India “strives for peace,” affirming that its goal is dialogue, not neutrality. Such statements signal that Indian diplomacy is led by the prime minister’s own personal diplomacy and philosophical framing.
On the diplomatic corps side, S. Jaishankar (a former Foreign Secretary) articulates the rationale behind India’s policy. He frequently emphasizes strategic autonomy and a multipolar order. At a London Chatham House speech in March 2025, Jaishankar noted that “a world with multiple centers of power aligns with India’s interests,” because it allows India to handle global challenges flexibly rather than under a single bloc. He has also highlighted partnerships like the Quad (with the US, Japan, Australia) as examples of how India cooperates without excluding others. Jaishankar is known for the idea of “multi-alignment” – engaging all major powers – instead of old-style non-alignment. As his book The India Way suggests, India seeks to leverage international contradictions: for instance, Jaishankar writes that India’s goal should be to move toward the “strategic sweet spot” by engaging the US, managing China, reassuring Russia, cultivating ties with Europe, and drawing its neighbors in. This “great-power game” mindset is now official policy.
Other diplomats follow this playbook. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra routinely carries out these priorities by negotiating trade deals and energy ties (such as the deals with Russia’s Rosneft). India’s permanent representatives in New York and Geneva frequently raise issues of global justice (like debt relief for poor countries) in UN debates. Even India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, shapes strategy by attending security summits in Asia and pushing back on China’s influence in the region. In short, today’s Indian diplomacy is a team effort led by Modi’s personal leadership and Jaishankar’s conceptual framework of multipolarity.
Highlights of India’s diplomatic leadership vision:
- Multi-alignment over alignment: India engages with all powers. Its leaders speak of leveraging relationships and not taking sides permanently.
- Strategic Autonomy: India’s ministers stress that the country will make its own choices. As Jaishankar said at Chatham House, a multipolar world “allows the country to navigate global challenges while fostering stronger partnerships”.
- Global South advocacy: India often frames its policy as representing developing nations’ interests. Its diplomats highlight South-South cooperation and issues like poverty reduction or climate finance to strengthen ties with Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
- Economic and tech diplomacy: Leaders like Modi and Jaishankar also link foreign policy to development – promoting initiatives like digital cooperation or trade agreements (e.g. imminent deals with the UK, UAE) to show India as a reliable partner..
- Soft power outreach: Alongside official diplomacy, India’s cultural and diaspora networks (global Bollywood, study abroad students, science collaborations) supplement its international influence. Leaders make grand gestures like sending aid (e.g. vaccines, food) to needy countries, which burnish India’s image of a caring global player.
In sum, today’s Indian diplomacy is actively shaped by current leaders who have woven traditional non-alignment into a new narrative of strategic autonomy. As one expert put it, India’s foreign policy is no longer passive neutrality but an “honest conversation” with the world about its own interests, while remaining open to collaboration.
What the World Thinks of Indian Diplomacy
India’s balancing approach has drawn both praise and scrutiny globally. Many observers view New Delhi as a pragmatic mediator. For instance, a recent op-ed by an Indian diplomat noted that India’s careful positioning (neither fully siding with Russia nor the West on Ukraine) makes it “a neutral and credible voice in global diplomacy,” especially given India’s G20 leadership and active role in multilateral fora. In Western media, commentators often discuss India’s “strategic autonomy” as a sign of its rise as an independent pole of power. As former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao wrote in Foreign Policy, India’s self-image as a civilizational state with a “vision of strategic autonomy and multipolarity” is reshaping how it interacts with the world. Such analyses generally conclude that India’s ascent is not threatening but constructive: for example, Foreign Policy argues that India’s rise “does not endanger its indispensable relationship with the US,” since New Delhi can now leverage competition among powers.
At the UN and other forums, India’s voice is heard with respect. Many countries acknowledge that India has legitimate global stakes: according to one summary of India’s UNSC election in 2020, support for India has “been increasing, with a number of countries advocating that the current Security Council does not represent 21st-century realities”. This sentiment reflects the view that India – as the world’s largest democracy and a rising economy – deserves more say. Moreover, developing countries often see India as a champion of their causes. On climate and development issues, India is regularly seen standing up for fair treatment of the Global South (though sometimes that puts it at odds with Western powers on issues like emission reductions).
Of course, not everyone is uncritical. Some analysts have labeled India’s Ukraine policy as “strategic ambivalence”, arguing that India sometimes prioritizes old alliances over global norms. There are also foreign pundits who press India to use its influence on Russia more forcefully. But increasingly the dominant narrative is that Indian Diplomacy style is savvy and stabilizing. An editorial in The Week magazine, written by a former Indian ambassador, argued that India is “uniquely positioned to play a constructive role” and described its stance as a “careful positioning” that seeks to protect stability above all. Similarly, global think tanks note that India, by remaining in touch with all parties, can act as a bridge – a potential broker for back-channel talks or humanitarian efforts.
Finally, in terms of image, India continues to be regarded (even by traditional rivals) as a key player in a multipolar world. Its model of non-alignment 2.0 – balancing ties rather than forming hard blocs – resonates in many capitals. As one expert quipped, India’s ability to juggle relationships with rivals (be they Russia vs. the U.S., Israel vs. Palestine, or Saudi Arabia vs. Iran) is “clearly shaping the Modi government’s approach”. This nuanced diplomacy has earned India invitations to new mini-lateral forums (such as the expanded G20 or Israel–India–UAE trilateral) and major summits, reflecting broad diplomatic respect. In summary, many international voices see Indian diplomacy today as an embodiment of the old non-aligned principle – “independent and autonomous” – adapted to modern times. By avoiding entangling alliances while advocating peace, India is widely viewed as a steadying presence in a volatile era.
