Subaltern Geopolitics: Rethinking India’s Indo-Pacific Role Amid US Strategic Reconfigurations

Abstract

This article examines India’s strategic involvement in the Indo-Pacific by applying the framework of subaltern geopolitics. It critically assesses how postcolonial identity, normative aspirations, and structural constraints influence its foreign policy actions in the context of US-led strategic changes. Moving away from traditional views centered on power dynamics or alliance strategies, the analysis posits that India’s approach to the Indo-Pacific embodies a hybrid stance—merging strategic independence, targeted alignment, and a diverse institutional framework. This analysis explores India’s complex role in minilateral frameworks like the Quad, its reluctance to engage in formal military alliances such as AUKUS, and its advocacy for alternative regional initiatives including Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. This study illustrates the ways in which India’s marginalized geopolitical influence is articulated through spatial strategies, narratives focused on development, and a challenge to the prevailing dichotomies of Western and Chinese regional perspectives. By synthesizing perspectives from postcolonial theory and critical geopolitics, the article presents an innovative analytical framework that redefines India’s position not merely as a derivative participant in great power rivalries, but as a co-architect of a more inclusive and multipolar Indo-Pacific order.

Keywords

Indo-Pacific subaltern strategic autonomy strategic reconfigurations SAGAR multipolarity regional order

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abhishek Mishra (2025) The Indo-Pacific in the age of multipolarity: India’s strategic imperatives. IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, 26 April. Available at: https://www.impriindia.com/insights/indo-pacific-multipolarity-india/

Adekola

Pearl

Sergi

, et al. (2024) Global South Leadership Style. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Bajpai

(2022) Pluralizing pluralism: lessons from, and for, India. The Review of Faith & International Affairs 20(1): 27–42.

Bhatt

(2025) Charting a route for IORA under India’s chairship. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/charting-a-route-for-iora-under-indias-chairship/article69359008.ece

Biswas

(2025) Why India is reaching out to the Taliban now. BBC, 14 January. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8ke9e27dxo

Bull

Banik

(2025) The rebirth of the Global South: geopolitics, imageries and developmental realities. Forum for Development Studies 52: 195–214.

Chatterjee

(2024) Approaches to the study of India’s foreign policy: an overview. In: Basu

Arshed

(eds) 75 Years of India’s Foreign Policy. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.39–62.

Chowdhury

(2024) India joins IPEF pact: how it can support the country’s supply chain, clean energy goals. Available at: https://www.outlookbusiness.com/explainers/india-joins-ipef-pact-how-it-can-support-the-countrys-supply-chain-clean-energy-goals

Desk

(2025) ‘Tense relationship serves neither side’: S Jaishankar on rebuilding India-China ties post-Galwan valley clashes. Times of India, 27 March. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tense-relationship-serves-neither-side-s-jaishankar-on-rebuilding-india-china-ties-post-galwan-valley-clashes/articleshow/119567775.cms (accessed 4 May 2025).

10.

Duggal

(2022) Quad as Asian NATO. In: Singh

Marwah

(eds) Multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific: Conceptual and Operational Challenges. London: Routledge, pp.103–123.

11.

Fawcett

Jagtiani

(2024) Regional powers, global aspirations: lessons from India and Iran. International Politics 61: 215–238.

12.

Gopal

(2024) India and collective defence in the Indo-Pacific: possibilities, prospects and challenges. Available at: https://www.ussc.edu.au/india-and-collective-defence-in-the-indo-pacific-possibilities-prospects-and-challenges

13.

Gujjar

(2021) Sagar policy: analyzing India’s vision for maritime diplomacy—Center for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS). Available at: https://claws.co.in/sagar-policy-analyzing-indias-vision-for-maritime-diplomacy/

14.

Haldar

(2025) India’s MAHASAGAR vision: strategic continuity in the Indian Ocean. Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Available at: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-s-mahasagar-vision-strategic-continuity-in-the-indian-ocean (accessed 4 May 2025).

15.

Heiduk

(2022) SWP Research Paper Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Available at: https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/research_papers/2022RP11_Security_Indo-Pacific.pdf

16.

Hom

Campbell

(2022) Wartime in the 21st century. International Relations 36: 525–546.

17.

Khanna

Moorthy

(2017) Analysing India’s soft power functioning in the twenty-first century: possibilities and challenges. India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs 73(3): 292–311.

18.

Khurana

(2017) The “Indo-Pacific” concept: retrospect and prospect. Available at: https://cimsec.org/indo-pacific-concept-retrospect-prospect/

19.

Kim

(2015) Territorial disputes in the South China sea: implications for security in Asia and beyond. Strategic Studies Quarterly 9(2): 107–141. Available at: https://www-jstor-org-443.web.bisu.edu.cn/stable/26271078

20.

Krishnan

(2023) The view from India—What AUKUS means for India. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/what-aukus-means-for-india/article66640994.ece

21.

Ladwig

(2024) The Indo-Pacific in Indian foreign policy. Available at: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/policy-briefs/indo-pacific-indian-foreign-policy

22.

Limaye

(2024) India-U.S. convergence in the Indo-Pacific. Observer Research Foundation (ORF), 14 October. Available at: https://www.orfonline.org/research/india-u-s-convergence-in-the-indo-pacific

23.

Linscott

(2024) Strengthening the India link in the Indo-Pacific economic framework for prosperity. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/strengthening-the-india-link-in-the-indo-pacific-economic-framework-for-prosperity/article68826893.ece

24.

Livemint (2023) G20 summit: full text of New Delhi G20 leaders declaration. Read here. Available at: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/g20-summit-full-text-of-new-delhi-g20-leaders-declaration-read-here-11694259472398.html

25.

Nadkarni

D’Anieri

Kerr

, et al. (2024) Forum: the Russia–Ukraine war and reactions from the Global South. The Chinese Journal of International Politics 17(4): 449–489.

26.

Office of The United States Trade Representative (2022) Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). Available at: https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/agreements-under-negotiation/indo-pacific-economic-framework-prosperity-ipef

27.

Pande

(2017) Strategic essentialism. In: Richardson

Castree

Goodchild

(eds) International Encyclopedia of Geography: People, the Earth, Environment and Technology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, pp.1–6.

28.

Patrick

(2023) Four contending U.S. approaches to multilateralism. Available at: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/01/four-contending-us-approaches-to-multilateralism?lang=en

29.

Patrick

Hogan

Stuenkel

(2025) BRICS expansion and the future of world order: perspectives from member states, partners, and aspirants. Available at: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2025/03/brics-expansion-and-the-future-of-world-order-perspectives-from-member-states-partners-and-aspirants?lang=en

30.

PTI (2022) Engagement with Indo-Pacific goes back several centuries: president Kovind. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-engagement-with-indo-pacific-region-goes-back-several-centuries-prez-kovind/article65287314.ece

31.

Saha

(2023a) ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): complementarities, challenges and opportunities. In: De

(ed.) Thirty Years of ASEAN-India Relations: Towards Indo-Pacific. London: Routledge, pp.569–582.

32.

Saha

(2023b) India’s growing strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific. Available at: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indias-growing-strategic-footprint-in-the-indo-pacific

33.

Saha

(2025) India and minilateral cooperation: a chosen partner or a “Hard Nut to Crack.” Available at: https://asiasociety.org/australia/india-and-minilateral-cooperation-chosen-partner-or-hard-nut-crack

34.

Saran

(2018) India’s role in a liberal post-western world. In: Alcaro

(ed.) The Liberal Order and Its Contestations. New York: Routledge, pp.92–108.

35.

Sharp

(2011) Subaltern geopolitics: introduction. Geoforum 42(3): 271–273.

36.

Singai

Dixit

Reddy

(2023) The gambit of geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific: a critical analysis. Journal of Contemporary Politics 2(4): 107–114.

37.

S.N. Ghormade (2024) The Indian Navy’s humanitarian role: strategic soft power in action. The Diplomat, 24 July. Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2024/07/the-indian-navys-humanitarian-role-strategic-soft-power-in-action/

38.

Sothirak

Murg

Pich

(2023) ASEAN’soutlook on the Indo-pacific and U.S.-China rivalry. Available at: https://policypulse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FULL-BOOK-AOIP-AND-U.S.-CHINA.pdf

39.

Srinivasan

(2025) Following backlash, “Jaffna” restored in India-built Cultural Centre’s name in northern Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/following-backlash-jaffna-restored-in-india-built-cultural-centres-name-in-northern-sri-lanka/article69135570.ece

40.

Storch

(2024) Foreign policy and international power: the effects of the US war in Afghanistan on India’s Afghanistan policy. Available at: https://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1736798526820341

41.

Sullivan de Estrada

(2023) India and order transition in the Indo-Pacific: resisting the Quad as a “security community.” The Pacific Review 36(2): 1–28.

42.

The Geostrata (2025) Beyond borders: India’s approach to regional security challenges. Available at: https://www.thegeostrata.com/post/beyond-borders-india-s-approach-to-regional-security-challenges

43.

Tuathail

GÓ

(2000) Critical Geopolitics. New York: Routledge.

44.

Upadhyay

(2022) BRICS, Quad, and India’s multi-alignment strategy. Stimson Center, 12 July. Available at: https://www.stimson.org/2022/brics-quad-and-indias-multi-alignment-strategy/

45.

Vinod

(2023) The smart megacity system of Indo-Pacific: emerging architecture and megacities studies. In: Vinod Kumar

(ed.) Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements. Singapore: Springer, pp.3–159.

46.

Vinodan

Kurian

(2024) Strategic autonomy and India’s hedging policies in the indo-pacific. Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs 11(4): 475–495.

47.

Wgi.world (2025) India’s economic and strategic rise: IMEC vs. BRI. Available at: https://www.wgi.world/indias-economic-and-strategic-rise-imec-vs-bri/

48.

Zhang

Cox

(2022) China’s new engagement with Afghanistan after the withdrawal. LSE Public Policy Review 2(3): 10.