Nehru's Foreign Policy

Nehru’s Foreign Policy

2020-04-26 19:47:25

Marked by consistency, continuity.
Not fall into joining military blocs -> end up becoming pawns ie Non Alignment/ NAM
Wanted to weight what is wrong and right and then take decision
His FP he wanted to extend support to colonial and ex colonial countries against colonialism
NAM helped democratisation of international relations esp in the UN w/ the one nation and one vote system checking the dominance of western bloc.
NAM Facilitated world peace. Nehru opposed war, wanted nuclear and general disarmament. It was guided by Gandhi ji’s ideas.
Emphasised peaceful co-existence of countries of different ideologies and system this led to Panchsheel ie respect territorial integrity, non aggression, non interference, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.
Even before independence in March 1947 he called for an Asian Relations Conference at Delhi for asian independence and their assertion at world stage.
Next conference in December 1947 to prevent re-colonisation of Indonesia by Dutch.
Followed by Asian Leaders confernce in 1954, Afro Asia conference in Bandung 1955 which was precursor to NAM Belgrade conf.
Pinnacle was 1961 where he supported Nasser of Egypt and Tito of Yugoslavia to call for Nuclear Disarmament in Belgrade.
IFP aimed to Protect, promote IN economic interest.
Helped it get military equipments from many different countries including USSR and USA.
Major arms deals with USSR, Green revolution was supported by USA.
Maintained active profile in multilateral bodies ex Commonwealth

International Role of India

Korean War

Korean war 1950 IN supported US in UNSC, condemned NK as aggressor.
US crossed the 38th paralled till Yalu river which formed boundary of Korea and CN. CN then sent armed volunteers to push US south of 38th parallel.
IN sent 60 Para Field Ambulance which was largest medical force in Korean war
Tested IN faith in NAM

Indo-China

US poured aid to French colonial power againt Viet Minh. Nehru wanted ceasefire.
Asian leaders conference at Colombo called in 1954. VK Krishna Menon sent to Geneva conference to explain Asian position to US.
Helped prevent further internationalisation of Indo China conflict.

Suez Canal

US UK withdrew fin aid to build Aswan Dam -> Nasser nationalising foreign banks.
Britain France wanted international control over it.
IN recognised it as integral part of Egypt. Wanted BR and FR to observe restraint.
ISR attack on Suez was condemned as called naked aggression.
IN troops participated in withdrawal as peace keepers.

Hungary

USSR aggression to crush anti soviet rebellion in 1956. IN abstained from condemning it that was formally condemned by the West.
IN position was that situation was more complex than it seemed with formation of 2 influence zones ie West and East.
Nehru criticised Soviet action and did not send an ambassador to Budapest for 2 years.

Congo

Belgium supported new province of Katanga. Lumumba the PM of Congo called for UN US and USSR for help.
US supported President Kasavubu, USSR backed Patrice Lumumba and Belgians the arm leader Mobutu.
Lumumba was murdered. IN asked UN for help and sent IN peace keepers which brought civil war to end.

Relations w/ Superpowers

USA

US stand on Kashmir inhibited friendship. UN commission reports of Pakistan being as aggressors were ignored. Food aids were kept hanging.
US did not appreciated recognition of Communist CN and gave Pak mil aid in 1952, they were included in CENTO, SEATO.
US supported Portugal in Goa.
Was due to US obsession w/ Communism. They could not fathom that other countries could have different set of priorities.
US thought that IN diversity would lead to disintegration of IN so it could not be counted as a Bulwark against Communism.
Strong pro colonial establishment was present in US.
Certain informed and liberal sections of US were pro-India.

USSR

Soveits were ambivalent saw IN as still being under imperialist influence.
Further CPI insurgency in Telangana and IN decision to stay w/ commonwealth was seen as surrendering to imperialism.
1951-52 it sent food shipments along w/ China. Stalin offered a treaty of friendship.
1955 Nehru visited USSR, Krushchev reciprocated.
1956 Comintern pacified Cold war stance by taking cognisance peaceful coexistence b/w countries belonging to diff social systems.
helped build Bhilai, Bokaro stell plants. Helped oil exploration.
When Dalai Lama seeked refuge in 1959. USSR did not side w/ CN but took a neutral stance.
1962 Mig 21 mfg deal was 1st time a non-communist country given permit to mfg sophisticated mil equipment.
Dec 1962 decl CN as responsible for war.
Did not station personnel to supervise use of equipment nor laid down conditions for deployment of equipment.
IN USSR friendship checked border disputes w/ Soviets and CN.
Was most critical element of Indian Foreign Policy.

PYQs

Nehru’s Foreign Policy; India and her neighbours (1947-1964)

Jawaharlal Nehru was the architect of India’s policy of non-alignment. In the light of this statement discuss India’s relations with the two ‘Power Blocks’ between 1947-1964. [2001, 60m]

Analyse Indian foreign policy of Non-alignment between 1947 and 1964. [2004, 60m]

Would you agree that India’s effort to pursue an independent foreign policy was a highlight of post-1947 politics? [2011, 30m]

“Nehru’s policy of Non-Alignment came to symbolised the struggle of India and other newly independent nations to retain and strengthen their independence from colonialism.” Critically evaluate. [2012, 10m]