The power dynamics

     In the world of diplomacy, there are no permanent friends or foes. The relationship between each country and the world keeps on evolving with the hard and soft power exhibited by the countries over a period of time.

    Quad is an informal grouping of 4 countries including India, Australia, US and Japan. It was formed basically to protect geo-strategic interests and the freedom of navigation in international waters in general and Indo-pacific in particular. The growing expansion of China through its "Belt and road initiative" and "The string of Pearls" has been seen in suspicion and as a threat to the freedom of navigation.

    Malabar exercise is an annual naval exercise between India, US and the Japan. Till recently, India was reluctant to include Australia in this exercise as this would amount to a formal military grouping of the informal Quad. India was cautious not to give China, its neighbour, to see it as an active participant in containing China's growth. But recently, India has changed its stance and has invited Australia to join the naval exercises.

    Many factors like the dominance of presence of China in Srilanka, Bangladesh, Iran and many of the South Asian countries along with prolonged border skirmishes including the Dokhlam issue might have made India change its position. While its a good move to take some action and show assertiveness, we need to be careful and remember that China is our neighbour and not of US or Japan or Australia.

    Any decision in policy must be taken after considering its risk-benefit analysis. Most of the time, the policies should be framed so that benefit outweighs risk. We need to remember that there are no permanent friends and should be careful with whom we are building relationship. After all any country can turn against another at any time.