02/06/2020 - International Relations

KEY POINTS

·         United States proposal for a “G11” summit, by expanding the G7 grouping of the US and major European countries to include India, Australia, South Korea, and Russia, is being widely perceived as an “anti-Chinese” platform.

·         The big question for India, then, is whether this invitation, if and when it is issued, should be accepted, given the country’s own current strained relations with its powerful northern neighbour.

·         A G11 meeting could offer a useful occasion to discuss with some of the world’s most important leaders the impact of Covid-19 on the global economy and lay down the contours of a coordinated response.

·         It is possible that the question of India’s acceptance of any such invitation may be perceived as provoking China at a time when it is making aggressive inroads into Indian territory.

·         This move, in turn, is seen as partial retaliation for the Indian government’s closer embrace of a US establishment, which has been increasingly hostile to China and for New Delhi’s April announcement subjecting investment from China to greater scrutiny. On the contrary, it is precisely because of these developments that the Indian foreign policy establishment should be receptive to invitations.

·         It would have the virtue of transmitting the compelling message that no other country, no matter how powerful, can dictate India’s foreign policy. Indeed, being seen to be intimidated by China’s military muscle-flexing in Sikkim and Ladakh leaves India open to pressure from Beijing to, say, exclude deeper partnerships with Japan or Australia, both of which, together with the US, are part of the 13-year-old Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

·         India, too, is involved in groupings that exclude China, such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (though China, together with G7 countries and some others, is a dialogue partner), so accepting potential G11 membership should not be seen as a precedent-setting move, either.

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USA's recently proposed "G11" grouping- to include India, Australia, South Korea, and Russia- in "G7" grouping, whose current members are the US, Italy, Germany, France, UK, Japan and Canada, is seen as "an effort to contain and isolate China".

           "An effort- to exclude China" comes as a result of escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues such as the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and Hong Kong.

>>> Why India should accept the membership of "G11 grouping" :

-  India has a range of disagreements with China, including their current border stand-off in Ladakh and the emerging institution is seen as an "anti-chinese platform". 

- Since, long New Delhi has made an argument that, the narrow G7 grouping is outdated and does not reflect the contemporary reality. At the same time, India demands for revamping of global institutions to reflect current geopolitical realities.

- The suggestion for formalising India’s inclusion is seen as aiding the rise of India as a democratic counterbalance to a hegemonic China.

-  To avoid fear of being  treated as "geopolitical football" between two great powers because India's intrinsic fear of losing strategic autonomy if it catches the US in a tighter geopolitical embrace is becoming outdated.

- To address the asymmetry, until India builds capability through economic growth, it makes sense for India to align with major powers.

>>> Conclusion :

"The more isolated India is, the greater its vulnerability to Chinese pressures". Therefore, India should interpret USA’s proposal on the expansion of G7 or the  formation of G10 or G11- as an opportunity, not as a curveball that should be best avoided.

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