Pawns Power Plays: Rules of Strategic Engagement
- Srijan Jha
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
D FOR DEFENCE
The chant “Wir sind das Volk” resonated amongst the ecstatic population of Berlin on 9 November 1989. The wall that had caused division had lost all its strength to the wave of freedom and democracy. East Berliners swooshed through the now listless Iron Curtain into the welcoming hands of West Berliners. This massive political change in the heart of Europe was an emphatic victory for one alliance over the other.
The Cold War’s operating principles were enshrined in defence diplomacy—roughly defined as military-to-military contacts, initiatives, and policies that aim to strengthen and sustain national security. This diplomacy includes increased naval participation, military drills, and efforts to export defence goods. The Warsaw Pact (led by the USSR) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation were products of this kind of diplomacy. India, however, chose a different path. It refused to become a mere pawn in a superpower standoff. Instead, India recognised early on that true sovereignty lies not in alignment but in assertion.
In the present day, more than ever, a show of strength is not always seen through traditional diplomacy. A fancy press statement from the heads of government to resolve a diplomatic equilibrium won’t give assurance to many people. Military strength or a nation’s defence capabilities affect any kind of negotiations. It would be extremely foolish of a nation to punch
above its military weight by severing diplomatic ties with another nation. Hence, any kind of diplomacy that benefits the national security of the concerned parties trumps other forms of diplomacy. The West still believes that the world dances to its tune of sanctions and summits. But India has shown that global respect doesn’t come from following the West — it comes from forging your path, defending your borders fiercely, and extending a hand of peace only when it isn’t mistaken for weakness.
Diplomacy without deterrence is just decoration.
MARITIME CHESS
Chess is considered more than just a sport; it serves as a mental exercise where players strive to predict their opponent's next move before it's too late. The strategy behind this risk-taking behaviour is what makes or breaks a game. In our case, the board is the whole world, and the pieces are nations wanting to end the opponent’s game plan. A strategic partnership between two or more countries is based on similar ideologies of trust, empowerment, and stability. From bolstering defensive ties to simply working on easing trade across borders, these alliances are not only key to overall global development but, more so, to regional areas. The motive behind them is to empower all parties involved and leverage each other’s strengths to gain an advantage over the common enemy in the region.
Due to its neutral stance on most global issues, India has seen incredible demand for its inclusion in many regional strategic bodies and alliances. Gone are the days when India was merely a route or a resource. Today, it is the anchor in Asia — a democratic power that doesn’t just balance the region but shapes it. India has grown from being a timid force to a powerful, well-positioned soft power in the subcontinent and has made it clear to the West of its intention not to rely on foreign support for its development.
This was evident at the 2023 G20 summit, where the New Delhi Declaration was unanimously adopted — something that Washington, Moscow, and Beijing wouldn’t have guessed in their wildest dreams. Additionally, PM Modi has been seen as a focal point for driving the upliftment of the Global South through his agenda. Even within the opposition, PM Modi has been praised for being the only leader capable of engaging with both the presidents of Russia and Ukraine without facing exorbitant oil prices.
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) Partnership is another such strategic move to control the Indo-Pacific region and promote the interests of its member states against China. India is expanding its naval power, focusing on anti-piracy patrols and protecting maritime trade routes, signalling its capabilities to China and asserting its presence in strategic areas[2].
Not all partnerships are advantageous. Pakistan's close relationship with China has become a burden for the latter due to delays in payments, unfriendly treatment of Chinese nationals, and the rising influence of India in the region. While China builds debt traps disguised as infrastructure and Pakistan clings to expired promises of brotherhood with Beijing, India builds trust through strategic, equitable, and forward-looking partnerships. The “Iron Brothers” have now become susceptible to rust[3].
When nations become pawns, only the wise remain players.
BROTHERS IN ARMS
As India celebrated its Independence Day on 15th August, 2021, its neighbouring population was subject to yet another environment of destruction and apathy. The Taliban had taken over Kabul, the Americans were fleeing, and the people of Afghanistan were dreading their future. The instability in the region started due to proxy wars fought during the Cold War. The delivery of weapons and money to the rebels in the 1980s, who would finally form the Taliban in the future, was yet another strategic blunder by the Americans, which they paid for on 9/11[4]. They had planted the tree and given it water, but didn’t plan for the fruits it would bear.
India watched closely and learned. The approach is characterised by strategic patience rather than reckless interference, choosing partnerships over proxy wars and stability over spectacle.
Weapons of any kind provide strength to a nation for its defence. Many countries, including India, aim to increase their defence spending to improve their military. Friendly nations and alliances often help each other out in the case of defence diplomacy. India's growing emphasis on indigenous defence production and co-development projects (like the BrahMos with Russia) could be presented as a more reliable and long-term partnership compared to potentially fluctuating policies of European nations or the pre-Trump American focus on unilateral arms sales. India now exports defence equipment to over 90 countries, reflecting its expanding footprint in the global defence market[5].
Moreover, deals like the Rafale Jet deal with the French and the South-South defensive cooperation with Egypt show that strategic deterrents can be built beyond the West. In FY 2023–24, the private sector contributed approximately 60% to India’s defence exports, with defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) contributing to the other 40% [6].
Source: India Today // Rafale jets practising for the Republic Day showcase event
Investing in cooperation rather than coercion is key to such ties.
However, there always has to be a limit to everything, including arms exports. More often than not, arms result in violence and destruction. In the age of nuclear weapons, even a slight miscommunication or show of defensive strength can put the world on a knife’s edge. The constant military support to Ukraine over the last 3 years has only continued to increase without a plausible case for a negotiating table. The more external powers pour weapons into a war zone, the higher the risk of escalation or miscalculation and maybe nuclear fallout.
The West keeps sending weapons to Ukraine as if peace is on the order.
A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED
General Niazi had no choice but to surrender to the Indian Army on 16th December, 1971. A movement filled with passion and life for the Bangladeshis had finally come to fruition. The Indian army not only provided extra military cover but also trained thousands of civilians and other personnel from Bangladesh to fight for their land and language.
Military exercises simulate real-world, full-scale military operations in controlled hostile environments to replicate wartime decisions and actions for training reasons or to study the outcomes of potential wartime decisions. It's all about preparing for the worst, and it's best to keep all your options open.
The QUAD’s Malabar exercise has been instrumental in demonstrating that true strength stems from building confidence in a region rather than spewing fear in maritime waters like the South China Sea. Indo-Pacific security has never been stronger due to the participation of ASEAN nations in multilateral exercises as well as bilateral exercises (SIMBEX with Singapore and Garuda with Indonesia) to ensure peace. India has not agreed to tow the EU agenda, as their imperial mindset forgets to count India as a central figure in the Indo-Pacific.
One significant advantage of organising such exercises is to monitor and control the smuggling of arms, drugs, and other illegal materials across maritime, land, and sea borders. A notable example of South-South cooperation is the CRUZEX exercise hosted by Brazil, which involves participation from neighbouring South American countries. Additionally, these exercises also address humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in the region by ensuring adequate security and assistance.
When nations train together, they not only prepare for war, they invest in peace.
SHARING IS CARING
The D-Day victory of the Allied forces was not due to the sheer numbers of soldiers they had on the battlefield. It is what allowed them to be in that very position that stood out later on. A web of information, lies, and deception that laid the groundwork for their victory was Operation Bodyguard. Often lost in that folklore, intelligence sharing was key to preventing current Europeans from only being able to speak German. The current war games are not based solely on military might. They now include boots and bytes.
Defence, intelligence, and technology sharing refers to the exchange of sensitive military data, surveillance capabilities, weapon systems, and defence technologies among allied countries. This collaboration enhances mutual security, increases interoperability, and fosters confidence among partners. It frequently includes collaborative research and development (for example, missile systems), as well as real-time threat intelligence sharing. Treaties, defence agreements, and strategic alliances control these interactions, allowing governments to respond more quickly and effectively to rising global and regional threats.
India has been at the forefront of regional and global defence-sharing mechanisms. Instead of acquiring supplies from one bloc, it has leveraged unique partnerships with Russia and the West to get good-quality machinery.
In addition to joint military exercises and technological development with allies, India has robust defence technology capabilities. In a hostile environment where America allowed funds for Pakistan’s F-16 program in 2022, nothing can be taken for granted.
Organisations like the Defence Research and Development Organisation, with the power of Aatmanirbharta, have been involved in rolling out powerful surveillance mechanisms like drones, UAVs, cyber system trackers, etc., that easily compare to the quality claimed to be the best by the West. This shows India’s motive of not being fed old scraps but to build something even better and at an affordable price[9].
However, history has always taught us to be vigilant and aware. If friends turn to foes, all intelligence and technology can suddenly feel like it is in the hands of the wrong party. The US-Iran episode of the same in 1979 proved that nobody can be blindly trusted[10].
Alliances may shift, but once secrets are shared, there’s no taking them back.
BEYOND BORDERS, BEYOND BATTLES
The world is developing at a much faster rate than was predicted 100 years ago. The race for supremacy drives nations into making unique choices that might not be in their best interests. For example, overlapping accords like QUAD, AUKUS, NATO, etc., could force a nation at peace to fight unnecessarily. Overmilitarization of arms and misuse of technology for illegal surveillance and smuggling remain challenges that need much more attention. Hypocrisy and special treatment by the West to certain factions must be retaliated against with utmost empowerment and belief.
In this race, nations must not forget that cooperation and integrity are two things that will go a long way and make them triumph against all odds. Alliances can deter, but they can also provoke—defensive moves often look offensive to enemies.
Reforms at the highest global governing bodies, like the United Nations, must occur to cater to the needs of the global south, as they constitute much of the developing world and have been ignored by the so-called wealthy nations. In the end, nations must learn: true strength lies not in guarding borders but in protecting humanity.
Source: India Today // The Security Council has been under fire to include more countries as Permanent Members as part of larger reforms
The path ahead looks scary to some, but it is an ocean of opportunities. Defence diplomacy must go beyond arms. It has to have a humanitarian and social impact to help bereaved communities. Investing in new technologies in the defence sector, like climate and AI defence, is key to ensuring a sustainable future. Strategically non-aligned nations like India must emerge as hosts of ‘defence Neutral Zones’—facilitating drills, humanitarian coordination, and future-tech testing—beyond the influence of polarising blocs.
In the theatre of geopolitics, diplomacy is the script, but defence is the stage.
Article by:
Srijan Jha
PES MUN Society
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