Indian Council of World Affairs

Distinguished Experts, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Students and Friends!

I would like to begin by focusing on the main title of the Book – ‘Friends’! 28 years ago when I joined the Indian Foreign Service, this word was still in use in diplomatic parlance, in communiques, in outcome documents, in dip speak. The 1971 Treaty that we had with the Soviet Union (which was befittingly replaced in 1993 post-Soviet collapse) was called the Treaty of ‘Friendship’, for instance, which became important for India’s Cold War period foreign relations in addition to the policy on non-alignment and ‘friendship’ with the newly independent colonies of the Global South. One can also cite the example of the 1970 ‘UN Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States’ which talks of ‘friendly’ relationsbetween States.

2.  Then somewhere along the line the word ‘partners’ began to gain currency, as opposed to ‘friends’. It was a curious shift – a not entirely comfortable shift – for ‘partners’ depict a relationship that is transactional, as if the ties between countries and peoples were a business or a commercial or even for profit dealing or undertaking. The word ‘friends’, on the other hand, is beautiful – it depicts bonds, affinity, camaraderie, care, trust and understanding. When I describe a country as a friend, it is immediately and easily comprehensible to a layman uneducated in the intricacies of international relations and even to a child. The word ‘friend’ contributes to a positive imagery of countries and, more importantly, their people. After all, the 1970 ‘UN Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States’ that I alluded to earlier talks of ‘friendly’ relations between States and not of ‘partnerships’.

3.  ICWA welcomes this return of focus on describing countries as ‘friends’ that the book by Prof. SreeramChaulia that we have gathered here to discuss today symbolizes.

4.  No country wishes to be a loner. No country wishes to be an outcaste. Countries seek constant validation and acceptance for their polity, economy, culture and style of governance through ‘friendships’. The ‘strategic’ content of ‘friendships’ between countries have always been key. How can my friend assist me in my time of need? How can I assist my friend in its time of need? How can a friend bridge my deficiencies in strategic sectors without making a noise about my deficiencies and without hurting my honour? How can two friends keep their word to each other and not betray. Like persons, countries are known by the friends they keep. This does not mean that those that don’t deserve to be talked to, should be talked to. Or that those who need calibrated engagement, need not be engaged in a carefully calibrated manner.

5.  As stated in this book, India aspires to be a ‘viswamitra’ – a friend to all! Named after an ancient Indian sage, this term amply reflects an aspiration for state behavior in international relations based on time-honored wisdom. For India, this aspiration is reflected in the ease with which it can engage with a G7 or a G20 or a BRICS overcoming the north-south and east-west divides or the ease with which it can engage with either party to a conflict like Ukraine-Russia or Israel-Palestine or to a traditional fault-line like Saudi Arabia-Iran or India’s contributions to peace on the Korean Peninsula in the 1950s. It is also reflected in platforms where India is able to bring together countries who may not necessarily be close friends with each other but are unanimous in their view when it comes to friendship with India such as India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) or India’s Chairmanship of G20, as also elaborated upon in the book.

6.  The book is also premised on what External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who launched this book, has said - that India aspires to be a leading power and not a balancing power. We have to be seen on our own merit, for what we bring to the table as a civilizational state and not as a counter-balance. Counter-balances are Cold War relics that mirrored the US-USSR divide at the macro level in different regions of the world. This is not to say that we don’t believe in competition. We do. We believe in competition, in competing for self-improvement, for securing our interests keeping in mind our values, and for global good. We believe in shouldering responsibilities according to our growing capabilities. We have sound leadership skills.

7.  The book ‘Friends: India’s Closest Strategic Partners’ by Prof. SreeramChaulia identifies 7 friends of India and essays these bilateral relationships: Australia, France, Israel, Japan, Russia, UAE, US. It visualizes that these friends if dotted on the world map make an elongated arc – “India’s own arc of friendship that can be perceived as a global string that joins the key dots from multiple outward-spanning concentric circles or mandalas envisaged by Kautilya…” 7 is an auspicious number in Hindu philosophy.

8.  I look forward to an engaging and lively book discussion. I welcome all the panelists and wish them all the best.

Thankyou.

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