India Turns East ─ International Engagement and Us-china Rivalry

India Turns East tells the story of India's long and difficult journey to reclaim its status in a rapidly changing Asian environment increasingly shaped by the US-China rivalry and the uncertainties of US commitment to Asia's security. The Look East policy initially aimed at reconnecting India with Asia's economic globalisation. As China became more assertive, Look East rapidly evolved into a comprehensive strategy with political and military dimensions.

Frédéric Grare argues that, despite this rapprochement, the congruence of Indian and US objectives regarding China is not absolute. The two countries share similar concerns, but differ in their tactics as well as their thoughts about the role China should play in the emerging regional architecture. Moreover, though bilateral US policies are usually perceived positively in New Delhi, paradoxically, the multilateral dimensions of the US Rebalance to Asia policy sometimes pushes New Delhi closer to Beijing's positions than to Washington's. This important new book explores some of the possible ways out of India's 'Eastern' dilemma.

Frederic Grare is a senior associate in the Carnegie Endowment's South Asia Program. His research focuses on security issues, Afghan, Indian and Pakistani regional policies and the tension between stability and democratisation. He has served at the French Defence Ministry's Directorate for Strategic Affairs, at the French embassy in Pakistan and as director of the Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities in New Delhi.