India’s South Asia Strategy Explained: The “Neighbourhood Shaping” Doctrine and Its Impact

It seems that the policy of India in regard to South Asia is gradually moving from “Neighbourhood First” towards “neighbourhood shaping.” The difference is significant: while the old policy was aimed at fostering friendly relations with its neighbours, the new policy puts more stress on the shaping of the surrounding economic, security, connectivity and strategic environment. South Asia is important for India not only because it represents its geographical neighborhood but also because it is the region that concerns the national security, trade routes, energy needs and geopolitical aspirations of India. From “Neighbourhood First” to “Neighbourhood Shaping” The policy of [...]