Preserve strategic autonomy: Shiv Shankar Menon

India should avoid any major diplomatic alignment under the current global circumstances, leading diplomat and author Shiv Shankar Menon said on Monday.

Addressing a gathering at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), the former Foreign Secretary cautioned India against giving up strategic autonomy. “India is too big to leave its security in some other country’s hands. That is why I object to strategic alignment under the present international circumstances. There is unprecedented uncertainty in international affairs which can be compared only with the period of World War II,” said Mr. Menon at a discussion of his newly published book, Choices: Inside the Making of India’s Foreign Policy.

Mr. Menon pointed to the recent anti-globalisation steps taken by the United States as the reason for going slow with alignments. “Time is not right for big alliances,” he said.

Mr. Menon, who was the foreign secretary during the negotiations on the India-US nuclear deal, said India should adopt a cautious approach to the new U.S. President Donald Trump. “Mr Trump has spoken about disruption, so we are yet to find out more of his vision beyond disruption.” The new administration’s plans for the world was not yet clear.

However, former Foreign Secretary and Mr. Menon’s predecessor Shyam Saran appeared to prefer closer ties with the U.S. in view of India’s strategic needs. “Alignment with the U.S. is good for us because of China,” said Mr. Saran, explaining that support from the U.S. had been a factor in negotiating with China.

Mr. Menon said India was not seeking absolute security. “Seeking absolute security can increase insecurity for others,” he said, arguing for more space for diplomatic negotiations to deal with India’s issues with China and Pakistan.

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