Editing Foreign relations of India (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Indian foreign relations|History of foreign relations of India (pre-1947)|l2 = Pre-1947 history}}

India's relations with the world have evolved since the [[British Raj]] (1857–1947) when the [[British Empire]] took responsibility for handling external and defence relations. When India gained independence in 1947, few Indians had experience in making or conducting foreign policy. However, the country's oldest political party, the [[Indian National Congress]], had established a small foreign department in 1925 to make overseas contacts and to publicise its independence struggle. From the late 1920s on, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], who had a long-standing interest in world affairs among independence leaders, formulated the Congress's stance on international issues in tandem with [[V. K. Krishna Menon]]; after 1947, they articulated India's worldview as Prime Minister and ''de facto'' Foreign Minister.

India's international influence varied over the years after independence. Indian prestige and moral authority were high in the 1950s and facilitated the acquisition of developmental assistance from both East and West. Although the prestige stemmed from India's nonaligned stance, and in particular the position it placed Indian diplomats, like Menon, to mediate or conciliate in others' disputes, the nation was unable to prevent Cold War politics from becoming intertwined with interstate relations in South Asia.  On the intensely debated Kashmir issue with Pakistan, India lost credibility by rejecting United Nations' calls for a plebiscite in the disputed area.<ref>Itty Abraham, "From Bandung to NAM: Non-alignment and Indian foreign policy, 1947–65." ''Commonwealth & Comparative Politics'' 46.2 (2008): 195–219.</ref>

In the 1960s and 1970s, India's international position among developed and developing countries faded during wars with China and Pakistan, disputes with other countries in South Asia, and India's attempt to match Pakistan's support from the United States and China by signing the [[Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation]] in August 1971. Although India obtained substantial Soviet military and economic aid, which helped to strengthen the nation, India's influence was undercut regionally and internationally by the perception that its [[Indo–Russia relations#India and the Soviet Union|friendship with the Soviet Union]] prevented a more forthright condemnation of the Soviet presence in Afghanistan. In the late 1980s, India improved relations with the United States, other developed countries, and China while continuing close ties with the Soviet Union. Relations with its South Asian neighbours, especially Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, occupied much of the energies of the Ministry of External Affairs.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/india/122.htm India – Foreign Relations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328205904/http://countrystudies.us/india/122.htm |date=28 March 2016 }}. Countrystudies.us. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref>

Even before independence, the [[Government of India|Indian colonial government]] maintained semi-autonomous diplomatic relations. It had colonies (such as the [[Colony of Aden|Aden Settlement]]), that sent and received full missions.<ref>[http://www.hcindia-au.org/india_australia.html High Commission of India in Australia: India Australia Relations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013123624/http://hcindia-au.org/india_australia.html |date=13 October 2009 }}. Hcindia-au.org (20 April 2011). Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> India was a founder member of both the [[League of Nations]]<ref>[http://www.indiana.edu/~league/1thordinaryassemb.htm First Assembly, Geneva, 15 November – 18 December 1920] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406025135/http://www.indiana.edu/~league/1thordinaryassemb.htm |date=6 April 2019 }}. Indiana.edu (18 December 1920). Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> and the United Nations.<ref>[https://www.un.org/en/members/growth.shtml UN list of members by admission] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712192515/http://www.un.org/en/members/growth.shtml |date=12 July 2014 }}. United Nations. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, it soon joined the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and strongly supported independence movements in other colonies, like the [[Indonesian National Revolution]].<ref>http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20080717.B08 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The [[partition of India|partition]] and various [[territorial dispute]]s, particularly that over [[Kashmir dispute|Kashmir]], would strain its [[Indo-Pakistani relations|relations with Pakistan]] for years to come. During the [[Cold War]], India adopted a foreign policy of [[neutrality (international relations)|not aligning]] itself with any major [[power (international)|power bloc]]. However, India developed close [[Indo–Russia relations#India and the Soviet Union|ties with the Soviet Union]] and received extensive military support from it.

The end of the Cold War significantly affected India's foreign policy, as it did for much of the world. The country now seeks to strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with the United States,<ref name="autogenerated4">[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060302-13.html Fact Sheet: United States and India: Strategic Partnership] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023011531/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060302-13.html |date=23 October 2017 }}. Georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov (22 February 2006). Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://ibef.org/india/indiachina.aspx India and ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704031220/http://www.ibef.org/india/indiachina.aspx |date=4 July 2013 }}. Ibef.org. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> the [[European Union]] [[trading bloc]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/india/intro/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502024635/http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/india/intro/index.htm|url-status=dead|title=The EU's relations with India – Overview|archive-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> Japan,<ref>[http://www.ibef.org/india/indiajapan.aspx India and Japan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513162934/http://www.ibef.org/india/indiajapan.aspx |date=13 May 2008 }}. Ibef.org. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> Israel,<ref>[http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2004/issue4/jv8no4a6.html India-Israel Partnership] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822044835/http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2004/issue4/jv8no4a6.html |date=22 August 2012 }}. Meria.idc.ac.il. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> Mexico,<ref>[http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/category/international-relations/ Mexico " International Relations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017050323/http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/category/international-relations/ |date=17 October 2010 }}</ref> and Brazil.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/13pmnam.htm India, Brazil ink nine agreements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331104017/http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/13pmnam.htm |date=31 March 2008 }}. Rediff.com. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> India has also forged close ties with the member states of the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]],<ref>[http://www.ibef.org/india/indiaasean.aspx India & Asean] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513163605/http://www.ibef.org/india/indiaasean.aspx |date=13 May 2008 }}. Ibef.org. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> the [[African Union]],<ref name="autogenerated1">Terral, Jim. (4 April 2008) [http://worldreport.cjly.net/2008/04/india-2nd-largest-importer-of.html World Report: "India 2nd largest importer of conventional weapons," Business Standard, 14 February 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025024549/http://worldreport.cjly.net/2008/04/india-2nd-largest-importer-of.html |date=25 October 2008 }}. Worldreport.cjly.net. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> the [[Arab League]]<ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/top3mset/56915 Indo-Arab relations; an account of India's relations with the Arab World from ancient up to modern times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216135655/http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/top3mset/56915 |date=16 December 2008 }}. Worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> and Iran.<ref name="neighbourhood">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12749743 |title=India elsewhere |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=21 February 2015 |archive-date=18 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818164430/http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12749743 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Though India continues to have a military relationship with Russia,<ref>[http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=591 Prospects for India-Russia Security Relations – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050512052559/https://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=591 |date=12 May 2005 }}. Carnegieendowment.org. Retrieved 12 November 2011.</ref> Israel has emerged as India's second-largest military partner<ref name="autogenerated1"/> while India has built a strong strategic partnership with the United States.<ref name="autogenerated4"/><ref name="assamtribune.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=feb1507%5Cedit1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070616041613/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=feb1507%5Cedit1|url-status=dead|title=The Assam Tribune Online|date=16 June 2007|archive-date=16 June 2007|website=archive.is}}</ref> The [[foreign policy of Narendra Modi]] indicated a shift towards focusing on the Asian region and, more broadly, trade deals.