India, with the second-highest population among the countries of the world, is emerging as one of the fastest growing economies of the world.
It is acquiring a major role in international affairs, being recognised as one of the leaders of the emerging world.
India has always made its presence felt in the global scene and is seen as representative of the developing world. India was a founding-member of the United Nations as well as the Non-Aligned Movement. It is actively involved in several important organisations including the SAARC, WTO and G20.
Dining the Cold War era, it received great support and military aid from the Soviet Union. But after the end of the Cold War, India is seeking to strengthen its ties with the major powers of the West, Japan, China, Latin America and the South-east Asian nations.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
It has participated in UN peacekeeping missions actively, being the largest troop contributor to the UN. It has been friendly towards most countries of the world and its bid to have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council has the support of several countries.
Though India is not part of any military alliance as such, its military and economic collaboration with the US, the UK, Japan and Israel has grown over the years. India is attempting closer ties with other developing countries like South Africa, Brazil and Mexico as well as its neighbours. One of the positive developments has been its look East Policy that aims at greater economic and strategic partnership between India and Asian countries like South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.