The Role of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Shaping India’s Foreign Policy towards the European Union since 2014

What is it about?

The article discusses the foreign policy of India towards the European Union by highlighting the role of domestic actors, using as a case study the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). India is a federal republic with a multiparty system. The constitution gives several prerogatives to the prime minister and its cabinet to conduct foreign policy. BJP is a political party which has been in power in India since 2014, and is the main domestic political actor which influences foreign policy of India. In recent elections in 2024, it gained the biggest number of seats, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi created a government for a third consecutive term. There are several factors which influence the policy of BJP towards the EU, such as: (i) the rise of India in the global arena, (ii) foreign policy based on strategic autonomy (iii) Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision. India’s rise in the global arena had an impact on the priorities of its foreign policy. The concept of strategic autonomy has been present in India’s foreign policy since its independence. It is still not understood by Western state and non-state actors, among others the EU. BJP presented a long-term plan for India, till 2047 India was supposed to be a developed country under Viksit Bharat's vision. The BJP government does not see the EU as a priority partner, yet it is interested in developing cooperation due to potential benefits in political, economic and security sectors.

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