The foreign policy of India regulates India’s relations with other states of the world in promoting its national interests.
Principles of foreign policy:
Promotion of world peace- India’s foreign policy aims at the promotion of international peace and security. Article 51 of the constitution directs the Indian state to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, foster respect for international law and treaty obligations and encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
Anti colonialism- The foreign policy of India opposes colonialism and imperialism. India views that colonialism and imperialism leads to exploitation of the weaker sections by the Imperialist powers and affect the promotion of international peace. India advocated the liquidation of colonialism in all forms and supported the Liberation Movement in Afro Asian countries like Indonesia Malaya Tunisia and so on.
Anti racialism- Opposition to racialism in all its forms is an important aspect of Indian foreign policy. India strongly criticized the policy of racial discrimination being followed by the white minority racist regime of South Africa.
Non alignment- This policy was initiated in the the cold war era when India refused to join any of the two blocks that is USA and USSR and chose to adopt a policy of non alignment. Under this India has no military alliances with countries of either blocs or indeed with any nation. India has an independent approach to foreign policy and she attempts to maintain friendly relations with all countries.
Panchsheel- This policy implies the five principles of conduct in international relations, it was embodied in the Preamble of The Indo China Treaty on Tibet signed in 1954 by Jawaharlal Nehru and Chou En-Lai the Chinese premier. The principles are mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, non aggression, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence and non interference in each others internal affairs.
Support to the UN- India became a member of the UN in 1945 itself since then it has been supporting the activities and programs of the UN. It has expressed full faith in the objectives and principles of the UN. India has actively participated in UN peacekeeping missions in Korea, Congo, Cambodia, Angola and so on.
Disarmament- The foreign policy of India is opposed to arms race and advocates this armament both conventional and nuclear. This is aimed at promoting world peace and security by reducing or ending tensions between power blocs and to accelerate economic development of the country by preventing the unproductive expenditure on the manufacture of arms.
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