India's ascending path.

• Author: Fenwick, Leah
• Position: Debating Delhi - Viewpoint essay

HAVING THE luxury of being courted from all sides as the next big thing, the Indian government is emphatically playing all the angles. India is indeed coming into its own--as demonstrated by American, Russian and Chinese courtship--but it faces a host of acute challenges on the road to great-power status. Most of these challenges arise from domestic economic disparities. Ultimately, India's success in foreign policy will depend upon its ability to reconcile uneven economic development with the practical reality of democratic politics.

India's increase in economic might underlies its hedging strategy in foreign policy. The country seeks amiable relations with all regional powers, both strengthening its ties with the United States and China, and maintaining longstanding friendly relations with Russia.

The U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement marks a new trajectory in bilateral relations, following decades of Soviet and then Russian preference. Indian popular sentiment toward the United States has been improving, although the Russians still win out handily in comparison. While the United States is, and for years has been, India's largest trading partner, a deeper political relationship awaited the controversial nuclear agreement. That agreement is evidence of a new U.S. commitment to the relationship, mostly to counter-balance the rise of China. The Indian government seems to be taking the whole affair in stride, relishing U.S. attention but unwilling and unable domestically to trumpet it--despite "pulling out the stops" when George W. Bush visited last year.

Nevertheless, post-Soviet Russia remains a reliable source of military hardware, nuclear technology, and oil and gas. The January 2007 visit of President Vladimir Putin only served to underline the importance of this economic relationship. The trade flows mostly one way, but the Indians are comfortable in the relationship and with Russia's oft-stated support for non-interference in the domestic affairs of others. For its part, Russia sees its relationship with India as a counterweight to both the United States and China in the region.

And despite lingering mistrust over border and military issues, India is also bolstering its ties with China--as reflected by the November 2006 visit of President Hu Jintao to New Delhi. Trade between the two nations has been growing rapidly, and many predict that China will supplant the United States as India's largest trade partner in the near future. That said...