Recalibrating Regionalism

India’s Foreign Policy Shift from SAARC to BIMSTEC in the Post-2014 Modi Era

Abstract

In international politics, regionalism refers to the process by which countries within a specific geographic area form alliances, organizations, or agreements to promote cooperation in economic, political, security, or cultural domains. Since the end of World War II, regionalism has been a prominent feature of international relations, enabling neighbouring states to manage their interactions more effectively and pursue shared objectives. For India, regional groupings have served as crucial platforms for advancing national interests both regionally and globally. Indian policymakers have consistently recognized the strategic value of engaging with regional organizations, ensuring active participation in response to shifting geopolitical and economic trends. By the early 21st century, a combination of domestic developments and changes in the regional environment prompted a recalibration of New Delhi’s regional engagement strategy.
This marked a broader transition in India’s approach—from one largely shaped by political and ideological considerations to a more pragmatic and strategic orientation influenced by globalization and the evolving regional balance of power. Consequently, India’s regional engagement, particularly in South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific, has entered a new phase of transformation. As traditional mechanisms such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) became increasingly dysfunctional—mainly due to persistent India-Pakistan tensions—India began turning toward sub-regional initiatives and extra-regional partnerships. In this context, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has emerged as a more viable and dynamic platform for pursuing India’s regional aspirations. BIMSTEC’s rising prominence in India's foreign policy is underpinned by a blend of strategic, economic, and geopolitical considerations. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this pivot has gained further momentum,
reflecting New Delhi’s desire to reconfigure regional cooperation frameworks in line with contemporary challenges and opportunities. This paper analyses how India has shifted from relying on traditional regional organizations like SAARC—which has been hampered by geopolitical tensions—to adopting a more
pragmatic, strategic, and diversified regional engagement. The study particularly highlights the growing significance of BIMSTEC in India's foreign policy as a viable alternative for promoting economic, strategic, and political cooperation in the South Asian and Indo-Pacific regions. .