Authors: Manisha Guruprasad, Pearl Dua, Narayani Sree S

Abstract

This paper analyses India’s evolving foreign policy through the lens of Russian oil trade, despite geopolitical demand, post the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. The study explores India’s transitioning foreign policy from the era of non-alignment to multi-alignment, and how this has helped India gain both economic and political leverage during challenging times, like the one examined in this paper. India’s decision for Russian oil import was in line with its own strategic autonomy and national interest, and this assertion exemplifies India’s strong foreign policy. India’s firm stance of maintaining its national energy security through its tactful statesmanship diplomacy, has made India a crucial player in the multipolar global order, whilst being a strong voice of the Global South. India has actively carved the path for the multipolar global order and a stronger Global South representation. The combination of sophisticated diplomacy, active multi-alignment approach, and assertion of India’s strategic autonomy has helped India to rise to be a prominent global power in the emerging multipolar order.

Keywords: Multi-alignment, Strategic autonomy, Energy security, Russian oil, National interest; Multipolarism, Hedging theory, Global South