After assuming power for the third consecutive time, prime minister Narendra Modi has given the message to the western countries by choosing Russia for his first bilateral foreign tour that India's foreign policy is independent and it is driven by its national interests. The global challenges of the present era due to the Russia-Ukraine war prove the principle of non-alignment to be relevant. Although there is no bi-polar world order now, but still the values of the Non-Aligned Movement influence India's foreign policy. After the Second World war, the independent countries of Asia, South America, Eastern europe and Africa wanted to create their own independent identity by staying away from the rivalry of the two superpowers - the united states of America and the Soviet Union. The Non-Aligned Movement is the product of this desire. Then leaders like Josep Tito, Jawaharlal Nehru, Gamel Nasser, Sukarno and Kwame Nkrumah were present to show a new path to the developing countries.

Did not abandon non-alignment

Despite facing many kinds of pressures, India did not abandon the policy of non-alignment. However, keeping in mind the growing strategic challenges in South Asia, india signed a treaty of "Peace, Friendship and Cooperation" with the then Soviet Union in august 1971. This treaty took care of the security needs of both countries. However, after this treaty, it was said that the policy of non-alignment has been buried. But these criticisms have no basis because the then prime minister Indira gandhi had made it clear that despite the treaty with the Soviet Union, India will continue with its policy of non-alignment.

This statement of Indiraji has proved to be correct on the test of time, because instead of saying anything in favor of any one country in the case of Russia-Ukraine war, prime minister Modi clearly declared in moscow that the solution to any problem should be found not with bombs and guns but with peace talks. After the disintegration of the communist Soviet Union, the world community accepted russia as the successor of the Soviet Union. As a result of the disintegration, the newly independent countries started struggling with a pitiable economic situation. The state-controlled economy had completely collapsed and the new economy had to be structured according to the needs of the market. It seemed like a difficult task.

India Herald