India is reshaping strategy through diversified trade, stronger self-reliance, deeper partnerships

The world has entered a volatile and uncertain era, possibly the most turbulent in living memory. This was on public display at 2026 Munich Security Conference whose theme 'Under Destruction' spoke volumes. While the trans-Atlantic world is particularly impacted, no part of the world is spared. India's policies are naturally responding to these changes as well.

Long-standing assumptions and expectations have now become questionable. Key dimensions are transforming simultaneously, be they strategic, political, economic or technological. Solutions lie in derisking and diversifying across multiple domains. This approach is increasingly visible in the policy of nations as much as in the choices of enterprises.

A nation like India that has pursued nimble and pragmatic policies at home and abroad appears better prepared. Strengthening national capabilities and addressing growth comprehensively deal with both short-term issues and long-term prospects. From a position of strength, India is engaging international partners more intensively. This is demonstrated in recently concluded trade deals. We will also be more salient in the global calculus on production, services, technology, skills and talent.


If the established order is eroding, it is equally clear that replacements are hard to create. We appear headed for a long twilight zone that is messy, risky, unpredictable, perhaps even dangerous. This is already visible across different geographies. Aspects of the present order will co-exist with elements of the emerging one. Economics will give way to politics and security when it comes to making choices. And in the age of AI, technology will be more transformative than ever before.

There are 6 notable features of the current international scenario.

• The US is determined to re-industrialise at any cost. This is central to its tech future.
• China's manufacturing and export focus continues unabated and may even expand.
• Technology competition is intensifying and polarising.
• Energy trade flows are being significantly redefined.
• New mindsets are encouraging greater risk-taking, including through military means.
• Migration and even mobility is getting contentious.

The experiences from Covid and conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia had already raised awareness about the fragility of our supply chains. Concentration of production is one key factor, the limitations of connectivity another. Sharper political competition has enhanced both aspects. We witness weaponisation of production and finance, leveraging of market shares and tightening of export controls.

To add to all of this, there are now uncertainties on the demand side due to application of bilateral tariffs. The world is no longer concerned just about crisis situations, but day-to-day commerce as well. Arguments for derisking across the entire spectrum - sourcing, production and markets - become more compelling by the day.

In this context, countries are increasingly concerned about ensuring food, health and energy security. As a major food producer, this also means fertiliser security for India. Given the prevailing uncertainties, it is natural to pursue diversification. In different domains, the triangulation of availability, costs and risks becomes the decision matrix. There will also be areas like critical minerals where stronger international collaboration is required to ensure adequate access.

Economic security is best served through stronger self-reliance and more trusted partners. This is particularly so for large nations like India. In a globalised world, the two goals are actually sides of the same coin. Greater capabilities attract more partnerships that, in turn, reinforce such resilience. We will not only contribute to global growth but also to stability, predictability and trust.

How does India best do that? As an overall strategy, by steady expansion of its comprehensive national power. PM Narendra Modi has declared our national goal to be Viksit Bharat by 2047. There are multiple dimensions of that journey and these must not be perceived as choices. India has to do both manufacturing and services, industry and agriculture, core and advanced technology, hard and soft infrastructure, innovation and scaling up, evolution and leapfrogging, enabling environment and focused initiatives. In fact, on most debates about economic strategy, 'all of the above' is probably the right answer. Achieving that would require constant progress on ease of doing business and ease of living, while advancing inclusive and people-centric policies.

An India with greater capabilities and confidence is understandably negotiating mutually beneficial arrangements with more partners. This year, we signed FTA with the EU and the trade deal with the US. Earlier, it was the UK, EFTA, New Zealand and Oman, as also the UAE, Australia and Mauritius. Our negotiators have shown great perseverance and commitment in securing greater market access for Indian products and services abroad, while protecting sensitive sectors. Quite apart from its growth and employment benefits, it addresses the derisking challenge by presenting Indian options as part of a global solution.

Since 2014, our people have chosen the direction they want India to go. We are emerging as a confident and optimistic society, responding sensibly to challenges without losing sight of opportunities. The last decade has been an empowering experience that has made the goal of Viksit Bharat a realistic one. It has also created a foundation for India to emerge as a credible and reliable international partner in this age of uncertainty. Both will happen as the reform express continues to roll on.

The writer is external affairs minister