India 2018

130 India 2018
9
Defence
THE current international security environment can be characterised as one of
rapid change, continued volatility and persistence of vast swathes of instability,
compounded by uncertainty about policies and approaches of major powers.
India continued efforts to build stronger defence partnerships with a large
number of foreign countries with a view to addressing emerging threats and to
enhance regional and international peace and stability.
The persisting salience of trans-national terrorism remains a primary
security challenge, exacerbated by the interplay between states and non-state
actors often used as proxies to spread extremist ideologies and foment violence.
Large parts of West Asia, Afghanistan and Africa are afflicted by deep instability
and violence, posing a rising threat to the stability of wider Asia and Europe.
The re-emergence of territorial disputes, including in the maritime domain,
has sharpened differences between states and could lead to militaristic
approaches and challenges to norms of international law as well as standards
of international behaviour. The rise of nationalism, including in key Western
nations, and continued challenges to democratic structures and processes in
several countries, could limit the efficacy of efforts for dialogue and
reconciliation within and among societies. The revolution of rising aspirations
coupled with weak economic growth as well as a variety of environmental and
social crises, place additional burdens on state structures that are often unable
to cope. Such instances of state failure, including in India's immediate
neighbourhood, are a distinct feature of the current scenario, with immediate
and often serious security implications.
The situation in India's immediate South Asian neighbourhood remains
difficult, with the overall security and political context in most neighbouring
states continuing to remain volatile. The growing recognition of the need to
take a united view against cross-border terrorism, leading to the cancellation
of the SAARC Summit and calls for holding the meeting in an atmosphere free
of terrorism, was a notable development. Efforts to provide a fresh impetus to
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC), such as through the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit and subregional
efforts such as BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) could provide
alternative structures to enhance cooperation and promote economic
development. India's continued economic rise, and the ability of some states in
South Asia to maintain reasonable economic growth rates as well as
improvements in their social development indicators, is another positive
dimension that augurs well for longer-term stability in the region.