India’s Beckoning of Central Europe amid Shifting Geopolitics

Abstract

For a long time, countries in Central Europe (CE) were caught in the structural rivalry of East and West, and Indian policy towards the region too remained passive. The end of the Cold War preoccupied India and the CE region alike, focusing on their economic transformation and recalibrating their respective foreign policies. India, however, with its rising political and economic clout, began an active pursuit of multialignment and thereby seeks a greater strategic engagement with the CE region. The shifting geopolitical landscape has made it inevitable to look at Europe beyond its traditional focus on the UK, France and Germany. Moreover, the steady growth trajectories of India and CE make a strong case for strengthening the bilateral partnership through enhanced political, economic and diplomatic investment. The paper thus explores the changing contours of India-Central Europe relations and avenues of cooperation where both sides could partner in building their domestic capacities and resilience. It argues that India needs to better its diplomatic outreach to CE and explain its distinct security and threat perceptions and strategic ambivalence on the Russia-Ukraine War. While China is a formidable rival with its expanding footprint, India can leverage its image as a safer and reliable economic partner. Likewise, the CE countries are keen to engage with India to widen their profile beyond their immediate neighbourhood.