Given its deep economic stakes and wide-ranging relationships in the region, India appears, at first glance, to be a natural candidate. Yet New Delhi has shown little appetite for such a role. This is not a missed opportunity, but a demonstration of a deliberate and evolving strategic choice.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has made it clear that India does not see itself as a “broker” in complex geopolitical conflicts. This position underscores a broader doctrine of strategic autonomy—one that prioritizes flexibility, avoids entanglement, and relies on calibrated engagement rather than high-visibility intervention.