India, the Quad, and the Liberal International Order

After the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China stands out as the predominant challenger to India's international interests and the international order. Despite its tradition of a post-colonial, developing democracy that was non-aligned during the Cold War, India upholds the rules-based international order together with the U.S., Europe and Japan. Quad is one of the most important new arrangements to upheld a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, India has sought to retain a leadership role in the Global South, given concerns about China’s growing influence. Besides defending the rules-based international order, India has also been a staunch defender of national sovereignty, and believes that the open trading system has not always offered a level playing field. India will simultaneously seek cooperation with the Quad, the middle-powers outside the Quad and the Global South, so that critical technology and best practices necessary for India’s transformation and increased leverage are secured.