Perceived National Interests
I have not been able to touch upon all the facts of foreign policy, an intriguing but fascinating subject. But I hope that from whatever I have said so far, you will be able to perceive some of the major determinants of our foreign policy. The foreign policy of any country is dictated in the first place by its perceived national interests. It is also shaped by the nation's history, social system and tradition.
In the case of India, the guiding principles of our foreign policy have been the quest for peace in the world willingness to work on the basis of peaceful co-existence and friendly co-operation with all nations of the world, aspiration for an equal and just economic order at home and in the world at large, and unfailing support to the struggle for freedom.
But the basic framework of our foreign policy has been provided by non-alignment. Though the non-aligned movement took a formal shape only at the Belgrade summit in 1961, it has been the basis of our foreign policy since 1946. We have always conceived of non-alignment as a positive policy with its thrust to end colonialism and racialism to safeguard peace and seek an end to the arms race. Above all,
non-alignment meant courage to maintain independence of judgment or, in other words, self-reliance, so that we can stay away from power blocks, gel on with our national tasks, and eliminate want, disease and ignorance which afflict the greater part of world's population.
The non-aligned movement has played a very significant role on the international scene. It stands today at the crossroads. We feel that this is the time to reaffirm its basic principles, consolidate its unity and accelerate its action-programme which ultimately aims at the establishment of a new and just international economic order.