Foreign policy of India is a perfect amalgamation of idealism and pragmatism. While founding its policy of peace, non-violence it balanced it with the need to have an independent stand at global level. India not only opted for non-alignment to remain independent from global power blocs and military alliances but also stood for territorial sovereignty and peaceful co-existence. These foundational principles remained as the harbinger of path of India in its journey as a nation state in the international politics. It sustained with its foreign policy throughout the Cold War amidst contentions in its neighbourhood and the challenges of economic development at domestic level as well as unfavourable balance of payments crisis. However, as the global world order evolved after the Cold War as the Bi-polarity gave way to Uni-polarity. India also started to integrate its enduring diplomatic ideals with practical objectives like economic growth, technological advancement and security modernization as a result of necessity and compulsions of times. The liberalization of India’s economy in 1991 due to the New Economic Policies /LPG and its growing role in global trade prompted a shift from non-alignment to “multi-alignment.” Among the most significant outcomes of this evolution is India’s deepening partnership with the United States due to their shared democratic values and convergent strategic goals, the India–U.S. relationship extends upto economic goals. The partnership is important to strike a balance in the Indo-Pacific and international world order. While India continues to uphold its independence in global decision-making, its collaboration with the United States enhances its global influence and modernization capabilities. This paper seeks to trace the continuities and discontinuities of Indian foreign policy. Further, it is also a humble attempt of analysing the rationale and implications of India’s strategic tilt toward the U.S.A. specifically in the post- cold war period.
