Post Brexit UK lists India among 'Difficult Four'
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London, Jan 18: The Chatham House recently published a report proposing a blueprint for foreign policy of Post Brexit UK. The report titled “Global Britain, Global Broker” classed India as one of the 'difficult four' countries along with China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. According to the report, developing the relationship with India, a pivotal regional democracy, as part of this shift in British strategic focus, will prove a complex task. India’s importance to the UK is inescapable.”
The report points that the complex fragmented domestic politics in India makes it one of the countries resistant to open trade and foreign investment. It also raises concerns over pursuance of India in extreme right-winged policies. With Indian politics entering ethno-nationalist phase, D10 coalition might end up as D9 damaging the relations between India and UK. Ethno-nationalism is a form of nationalism where the nation and nationality are defined in terms of ethnicity. The D10 group of countries was proposed by Britain to group ten biggest democracies in the world. The D10 group will include all the G7 countries and additionally India, Australia and South Korea.
The report criticizes India for its diplomatic behaviour. According to the report, India did not join the group of countries that criticized China at the United Nations General Assembly held in 2019. The UN Members criticized China for its Human rights violations in Xinjiang. Also, India stayed silent over the National Security Law in Hong Kong, for personal diplomatic benefits. Thus, by grouping India as one of the 'Difficult Four' countries, UK has destined India to count among its rivals or awkward counterparts as it pursues it's post-Brexit goals.
The Chatham House, who has published the blueprint of UK's foreign policy, is also called the Royal Institute of International Affairs. The Chatham House aims to promote debate on significant developments in international affairs and policy responses. It is usually used as a source of information by experts on matters involving major international issue.
With the recent release of UK's post-Brexit Foreign policy and considering the recent updates in the India-UK relations from both the sides, the destiny of the bilateral relations between the nations has become a complex matter.