To define a Monroe Doctrine for India, one must first understand the conditions that led President James Monroe of the US to declare it in 1823. America was not then a significant power, but Monroe’s policy was cleverly framed to fend off major European powers from encroaching on the newly found land west of the Atlantic, which was poised to become an economic powerhouse with its abundant natural resources and the geographical blessing of having free navigation across both the Pacific and Atlantic. Monroe told Europe to stay out of the Americas, and in exchange, the US would not interfere in European affairs.

This policy is seen by neorealists like John Mearsheimer as a foundational step toward the US’s eventual establishment of regional and global hegemony. Understanding this historical framework is crucial for contemplating a similar doctrine for India, considering both its unique position and the contemporary geopolitical landscape.

It is worth noting that today’s great powers have not imposed their doctrines after achieving their status but have instead achieved great-power status partly because they declared their sphere-of-influence doctrines during their early stages of ascent: the Monroe Doctrine in the case of the US, and China’s informal control over the South China Sea and its first island chain dilemma. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi have used such ideas to justify India’s interventions in Goa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The possibility of India invoking this doctrine has arisen amid the presence of four Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean Region, coinciding with India’s cancellation of a missile test.

It is undeniable that the economic centre of gravity is shifting toward Asia, away from the Americas, as evidenced by strategic shifts and policies that are pivoting toward the region. However, it is unwise for India to mimic the Monroe Doctrine in full. As a civilisational state, we should not be writing on a blank slate; our past and present must inform our policy.

India’s Monroe Doctrine should be anchored in three core principles specifically designed for our unique context.

The first principle emphasises the importance of acknowledging geopolitical realities. This means that India must engage in an objective analysis of current global power dynamics, free from intellectual bias. Recognising the shifting balance of power between the US and China is crucial. Rather than relying on the hope that either superpower will assist us in times of crisis, we must base our strategies and actions on the actual conditions and relationships in the global arena.

It is crucial for India to start behaving like a great power, which does not simply mean exerting hard power with arrogance. Instead, it involves the necessity to engage in actions proportionate to its capabilities and, at times, even exceeding them. Unfortunately, India has tended to punch below its weight due to a risk-averse mindset, creating a perception that it is merely a populous state with a conventional military and industry, not significantly different from its........

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