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Strategic Autonomy 2.0: How India’s 'Multi-Alignment' Is The Antidote To Picking Sides In US-Israel War With Iran
Strategic Autonomy 2.0: How India’s 'Multi-Alignment' Is The Antidote To Picking Sides In US-Israel War With Iran
For decades, India’s approach to West Asia was defined by a cautious, ideological adherence to non-alignment and an unwavering, singular focus on Palestinian solidarity. However, as the region stands at a volatile crossroads in 2026, New Delhi’s strategy has undergone a profound transformation. Moving away from the “reactive" diplomacy of the 20th century, India has embraced a “proactive" and multi-dimensional policy that prioritises national interest over historical dogma. This shift is not merely a change in tone but a structural recalibration of how India views its “extended neighbourhood".
Historically, India viewed the Israel-Palestine conflict through a zero-sum lens. Support for one was often perceived as a betrayal of the other. Today, India employs a policy of de-hyphenation. This means New Delhi treats its relationship with Israel and its support for Palestine as two distinct, independent tracks. While India remains committed to a sovereign, independent state of Palestine—as evidenced by its observer status in recent 2026 peace initiatives—it no longer allows this stance to limit its “special strategic partnership" with Israel.
The state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in February 2026, where he became the first Indian leader to address the Knesset, underscored this confidence. By elevating ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation, and Prosperity", India has moved its relationship with Israel from the shadows of “covert pragmatism" into the sunlight of high-level public diplomacy.
Despite closer military and technological ties with Tel Aviv, India has not chosen a side in the sense of joining a rigid military bloc. Instead, it has mastered the art of “multi-alignment." Even as it signs multi-billion dollar defence deals with Israel, India is simultaneously deepening its integration with the Arab world. The landmark India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) framework are prime examples of this.
New Delhi continues to balance its relations between rival camps: the Hebrew state, the Sunni Arab monarchies (UAE, Saudi Arabia), and Shia Iran. When US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran in late February 2026, India’s response was a masterclass in strategic autonomy. It did not condemn the strikes, nor did it endorse them; instead, it called for the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states" to be respected while immediately engaging in “phone-call diplomacy" with counterparts in Tehran, Tel Aviv, and the Gulf.
This new stance signifies India’s emergence as a pragmatic middle power. For India, West Asia is no longer just a source of crude oil or a destination for migrant labour; it is a theatre for maritime security, counter-terrorism, and advanced technology.
Economic Interdependence: With over 9 million Indians in the Gulf and 50% of energy imports coming from the region, stability is a domestic necessity for India.
Defence Evolution: India has transitioned from being a mere buyer of Israeli arms to a partner in joint development, such as the Barak-8 missile systems.
Strategic Autonomy: By refusing to join formal alliances, India preserves its “strategic autonomy", allowing it to act as a credible mediator or “stabilising influence" in a region where few other global powers can talk to all sides simultaneously.
Ultimately, India’s message is clear: it is a “friend to all and an enemy to none", but its friendships are now anchored in the cold, hard realities of 2026 geopolitics rather than the sentimental solidarities of the 1970s.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Israel, Iran, US, Trump, United States
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