With the end of the Cold War and the emergence of a polycentric balance of power among six major nations — US, European Union, Russia, China,Japan and India — there is no more bloc politics. The US has developed extensive trade relations with China which has led to a great degree of mutual dependence. Russia is now a major supplier of energy to Europe, China and Japan. The balance of power permits each player to deal bilaterally with others to mutual advantage. India has been recognised as a strategic partner by Russia, US and European Union, and is engaged in a strategic dialogue with China and Japan.

In the light of the above reality there was no need for Rice to raise the question about the relevance of non-alignment in Indian foreign policy. The cooperation she seeks with democracies like India, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa can be obtained without non-alignment coming in the way, provided the US and European countries would agree to an equitable trade order and to reform of international decision-making so that it abides by genuine democratic norms and does not perpetuate the dominance of the victors of the Second World War.

The writer is a defence analyst