Distance from two camps

The core idea of India’s foreign policy during the Cold War was to stay out of the two rival military blocs — the US-led NATO and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. This was not a passive or neutral stance; it was an active, independent position called non-alignment. India believed that aligning with either superpower would drag it into the conflicts of the Cold War, which would harm both its own interests and the cause of world peace.

India pursued this dream of a peaceful world in three concrete ways: by advocating non-alignment as the ideal foreign policy for newly independent countries, by working to reduce tensions between the US and the Soviet Union, and by contributing troops and resources to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The Balancing Act

Non-alignment was a difficult path. India wanted to be friendly with both the US and the Soviet Union without joining either. As Jawaharlal Nehru wrote in a letter in January 1947, “We must be friendly to both and yet not join either.” He knew this would make India’s path difficult, as both superpowers were suspicious of each other and of other countries. India would often be suspected by one side of leaning towards the other.

This balancing act was not always perfect. Two events in 1956 show the challenge clearly:

• Suez Canal Crisis (1956): When Britain, France, and Israel attacked Egypt over the Suez Canal, India led the world’s protest against this act of neo-colonial invasion. This put India firmly against a key US ally (Britain).
• Soviet Invasion of Hungary (1956): In the same year, when the Soviet Union invaded Hungary to crush a popular uprising, India did not join in the public condemnation of the USSR.

This inconsistency drew criticism. However, despite such situations, India by and large maintained an independent stand on most international issues. The payoff was significant: India was able to receive aid and assistance from members of both blocs — economic aid from the US and technological/military aid from the Soviet Union.

Tensions with the United States

India’s independent foreign policy and its advocacy of non-alignment did not please the United States. This led to considerable unease in Indo-US relations during the 1950s. The US resented India’s growing partnership with the Soviet Union.

A major source of friction was Pakistan’s decision to join US-led military alliances. While India was trying to convince other developing countries to stay non-aligned, Pakistan became a formal ally of the US. This directly threatened India’s security and deepened the rift.

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