AI AND THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE: Author: Aarav Pandey
This article examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping international relations through the lens of India’s foreign policy, security doctrine, and techno-diplomacy. It analyses India’s “AI for All” vision, its role in Global South leadership, positions on autonomous weapons, and domestic challenges like deepfakes, supported by recent data, policy initiatives, and case examples
ARTICLE
Abstract
This article examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping international relations through the lens of India’s foreign policy, security doctrine, and techno-diplomacy. It analyses India’s “AI for All” vision, its role in Global South leadership, positions on autonomous weapons, and domestic challenges like deepfakes, supported by recent data, policy initiatives, and case examples.
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence; India foreign policy; Global South; autonomous weapons; techno-diplomacy; digital sovereignty
Introduction:
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a strategic variable in power, governance, and security. For India—a rising power with nuclear capabilities, a massive digital public infrastructure, and leadership aspirations in the Global South—AI intersects directly with core foreign policy objectives: strategic autonomy, development diplomacy, and rule-based order. Between 2024 and 2026, India launched the ₹10,371.92 crore IndiaAI Mission, expanded compute capacity to over 18,000 GPUs, and rose from 7th to 3rd in Stanford’s Global AI Vibrancy Index, signalling both capability and intent. Yet, this technological ascent unfolds amid US–China rivalry, fragmented global AI governance, and acute risks of disinformation and autonomous warfare. This article argues that India’s pragmatic, human-centric, and development-oriented approach offers a distinctive “middle path” in AI-driven international relations—but only if matched with robust legal frameworks and inclusive diplomacy.
India’s AI Strategy as Foreign Policy Instrument
India’s AI doctrine is encapsulated in the motto: “Make AI in India and Make AI Work for India.” The IndiaAI Mission (2024) allocates over ₹10,000 crore across compute infrastructure, indigenous models, startups, datasets, and skilling, with 44% dedicated to compute alone. This is not merely industrial policy; it is foreign policy. By building sovereign capacity, India reduces dependency on foreign tech, enhances bargaining power in negotiations (e.g., chip export controls), and positions itself as a reliable alternative partner for Global South nations seeking affordable, ethical AI. Initiatives like Bhashini (multilingual AI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) exports (e.g., UPI, Aadhaar-inspired systems) exemplify “development diplomacy”—using technology to build soft power and strategic partnerships.
India’s presidency of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and active role in G20, UN, and OECD forums underscore its ambition to shape global AI norms. Unlike the US’s innovation-first or EU’s regulation-first models, India advocates “AI for All” prioritising inclusion, affordability, and human welfare. This resonates strongly with developing nations facing digital divides. For instance, India’s collaboration with France (2025 AI Roadmap) and engagement under iCET with the US focus on safe, open, and trustworthy AI, while resisting overly restrictive regimes that could stifle Global South innovation. By hosting the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, India aims to deliver tangible outcomes on capacity-building, data governance, and ethical standards consolidating its role as a bridge between advanced and emerging economies.
• Security, Autonomous Weapons, and International Humanitarian Law:
AI’s military applications present the sharpest legal and ethical challenges. India’s position on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) is pragmatic: it opposes a blanket ban as “premature” but insists on strict adherence to International Humanitarian Law (IHL). At the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), India has affirmed that IHL’s principles—distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack—apply fully to autonomous systems, and that human accountability must remain central. This aligns with India’s broader defence modernisation, which includes integrating AI into surveillance, cyber defence, and decision-support systems, while retaining human oversight. However, the open question remains: how to ensure compliance in practice, especially as adversaries deploy increasingly autonomous capabilities? India’s call for flexible, voluntary norms—rather than rigid treaties—reflects its desire to balance security needs with ethical commitments, but may face criticism for lacking enforceability.
• Disinformation, Deepfakes, and Democratic Resilience
AI’s impact on information ecosystems directly affects India’s international standing. During the 2024 general elections, deepfakes and synthetic media were used to manipulate public opinion, prompting global attention. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 identified AI-driven disinformation as a top-tier threat to democracies. India’s response—amending IT Rules to mandate takedowns and label synthetic content—has drawn criticism for potentially chilling free speech and concentrating information control in the state. Internationally, this raises concerns about digital authoritarianism and sets precedents that could be misused by other regimes. For India’s foreign policy, the challenge is twofold: project itself as a responsible digital democracy while safeguarding against external interference (e.g., state-sponsored deepfake campaigns). Strengthening independent fact-checking, media literacy, and cross-border cooperation on disinformation is critical to maintaining credibility.
• Economic Statecraft and Techno-Sovereignty
AI is central to India’s economic statecraft. With cumulative AI investments exceeding $20 billion and a talent pool projected to reach 1.25 million by 2027, India is positioning itself as a hub for ethical, scalable AI solutions. The expansion of compute capacity (120 petaflops added in 2024–25) and public-private partnerships (e.g., ₹3.8 billion in combined investments in 2024) signal serious intent. However, challenges persist: revised budget estimates for IndiaAI Mission dropped 69% in 2024–25 (from ₹551.75 crore to ₹173 crore), though FY 2025–26 saw a rebound with ₹2,000 crore allocated. Sustained funding, regional AI supercomputing centres, and skilling initiatives are essential to avoid dependency on foreign compute and models. In trade negotiations, India’s stance on data localisation, algorithmic transparency, and IP rights will increasingly shape its relationships with the US, EU, and China.
Conclusion:
AI is redefining the architecture of international relations, and India is neither a passive observer nor a mere rule-taker. Through its “AI for All” vision, leadership in the Global South, pragmatic stance on autonomous weapons, and digital diplomacy, India offers a distinctive model that balances innovation, inclusion, and security. Yet, to fully realise this potential, India must address domestic challenges—deepfakes, funding volatility, and regulatory overreach—while advancing enforceable international norms on AI governance and IHL compliance. The coming decade will test whether India can translate its techno-pragmatism into a durable, rules-based order that serves not just its national interest, but the collective good of a multipolar, AI-driven world.
References / Citations
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