Acceptance in the Contemporary World Order: India's Neighbourhood First Policy

Abstract: India’s foreign policy has evolved in various ways in the post-independence era. The main architect of independent India’s foreign policy was Jawaharlal Nehru. He was essentially an idealistic leader. Therefore, he envisioned a peaceful world and the main principles adopted in India’s foreign policy during his time are equally relevant even after 75 years of independence. There is no doubt that India has wanted to maintain good relations with its neighbouring countries from the very beginning. From Nehru to Modi; Despite various strategic changes in India’s foreign policy during this long journey of India’s foreign policy, India’s foreign policy towards neighbouring countries has remained almost unchanged. After the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, came to power, the government’s foreign policy priority list has been prepared with the principle of ‘neighbours first’. The main objective of adopting this policy was to establish good relations with the neighbouring countries of the country and to give priority to the neighbouring countries first. Because, one of the many challenges of the foreign policy of the state in India is to establish good relations with neighbouring countries. We know about Pakistan’s hostility towards India, its fierce rivalry with China; the ups and downs in relations with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives and its friendship with Bhutan. Moreover, the countries Afghanistan and Myanmar, located on both ends of the Indian subcontinent, have largely controlled the mainstream of India’s politics, social structure and economy. In this situation, the Indian state has wanted to establish good relations with its neighbouring countries and present itself to the world as a strong and modern state along with the neighbouring countries. Therefore, it goes without saying that this policy of India, ‘Neighbours First’, is an extremely important and acceptable policy in the contemporary world order. Based on this policy, the Indian state is trying to establish good relations with its neighbouring countries by providing them with financial, military and diplomatic assistance.