Foreign policy and national security Bharat Shakti 27 Aug 19
Foreign policy and national security Bharat Shakti 27 Aug 19
For any nation, foreign policy and national security go hand in glove. Both are aimed at enhancing national interest. National interests, apart from being enduring, also have a geographical content, hence vary nation to nation. The task of any government in power is to employ all its elements of power for furtherance of its national interests.
The change of government in Venezuela is in the national interest of the US and not for India. Hence, the US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela and expects all nations to follow its diktat. Simultaneously, US-Iran and US-Russia relations and sanctions on them adversely impact India, not the US, which has imposed them. The US, as a policy, never imposes sanctions where it could be adversely impacted.
India effectively employed its diplomatic corps to isolate Pak’s attempts to garner international support post the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir. While the stage for the same was set much earlier by enhanced international visits by Modi in his earlier tenure, effective engagement by India and poor reputation of Pak in the diplomatic environment played to Indian advantage.
While foreign policy is handled by the diplomatic corps on the guidelines of the government in power, there are multiple partners involved in national security. Major players include intelligence agencies, economic experts and the armed forces, apart from the diplomatic corps which would project Indian justification to curb official criticism. All these are elements of national power, which together need to determine solutions to enhancing national interests and ensuring national security. Diplomacy is just one of the elements employed.
These players are meant to operate in close coordination with one another to push forth the agenda of the government. It is also a fact that a nation’s foreign policy is only effective if backed by requisite economic and military power. Thus, US sanctions have always had an enduring effect, as its actions are backed by the dollar being the international currency and its strong military deployment across the globe.
The foreign policy of a nation would only be effective if all its elements of power act in unison. For such an action, there must be an internal mechanism within the country, where heads of these individual entities share views and debate options. Ideally this should be the expanded Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). However, with political leaders seeking to keep the armed forces at bay, the present CCS has only a political bias, supported by intelligence experts.
It has been claimed that members of the present CCS, based on their experience in the last government, are well versed with India’s security challenges and the focus which its foreign policies should take. This is only partially correct. This was evident in the presentation of the current budget where defence needs were largely ignored, despite national security threats expanding. It continues to be ignored despite rising Indo-Pak tensions.
The armed forces had for long been seeking enhanced funds to meet shortfalls in ammunition and plug gaps in capabilities to challenge Pak’s misadventures, growing Chinese incursions and expanding international commitments. Considering the nuclear environment and envisaging no major operations, demands for modernization and replenishment of ammunition shortfalls were ignored.
This had been compounded by ignoring reorganizing apex management of defence, by appointing a single point military advisor to the government. With the Ministry of Defence (MoD) manned by bureaucrats, with little knowledge on concept of operations, more concerned with management of funds and unable to comprehend genuine operational shortcomings, shortfalls continued to rise, and capability gaps increased.
While the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has been announced, it is premature to visualize the form, the implementation would take. In all probability, it may be just a Permanent Chairman Chiefs of Staff committee, rather than a CDS for multiple reasons, mainly the fear of power in one individual and maintaining the delicate balance of protocol between the bureaucracy and uniformed. This lowered appointment would have a limited impact, though he may still be considered as the ‘Single Point Military Advisor’ to the government.
The government created the Defence Planning Committee (DPC) under the National Security Advisor to handle shortcoming in capability development alongside producing a realistic assessment of threat perceptions. While it was a step in the right direction, nothing moved. The National Security Policy and India’s national interests have yet to be officially articulated. It was only after Uri, when the army chief made shortfall of ammunition evident to the Prime Minister did some action start. However, funds continued to remain short.
India is a growing economic power. The world is rushing in to engage with India. India’s economic growth is a fallout of its secure internal democratic institutions as also managing its external military threats. India is also expected to fulfil its global aspirations in the security field, if it seeks to project itself as a nation suitable for a seat on the UN Security Council.
Simultaneously, the nation is enhancing its outreach by seeking to be an effective member of multiple international groupings, including the QUAD. It is expanding its military engagements across the globe. Further, as Indian investments increase, either in SE Asia or in Africa, it must enhance its military power to protect its investments in times of threat.
As threats increase in the international arena, military power needs to be redeployed to counter them. The recent case of Indian Naval ships being deployed to escort Indian vessels in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormoz, post increased US-Iran tensions, and being employed in anti-piracy operations along the African coast bear merit.
Thus, the need to create an expanded CCS which can coordinate Indian foreign policy outreach and economic investments with requisite military power. It could also define India’s area of interests and influence, based on which military capabilities should be developed. Without direct involvement of the national leadership, such an organization would have limited impact and visibility.
Ignoring the military element of national power, while pushing forth other elements could at some stage become embarrassing for the nation. A government seeking to convert the country’s present economy into a USD 5 Trillion economy by the end of its tenure, must ensure that military power essential to protect its assets and investments overseas exists, despite the nation having no desire to become a global policeman or possessing any territorial ambitions.
As Late President Abdul Kalam had stated while addressing passing out Cadets at the Indian Military Academy on 09 Dec 2006, ‘I would like to share with you, important aspects of national security. National security is born out of two important components. One is the economic growth and prosperity; second one is the capability to defend the nation against all types of threats.’ He added, ‘national development and national security have to go together.’ Will the national leadership consider his words and act?
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army