International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

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Volume 8 Issue 5
September-October 2026

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Military Diplomacy and Small-State Agency: India's Security Partnerships and the Geopolitics of South Asia

Author(s) Ms. Sukhamrit Kaur Pawar, Dr. Dhananjay Kumar Verma
Country India
Abstract India's geographic position and material capabilities make it a central actor in South Asian security, but its neighbours retain their own interests and policy choices. Military diplomacy—such as defence dialogue, military training, joint exercises, capacity-building, and maritime cooperation—can support communication and practical collaboration, yet its political effects cannot be inferred from the existence of an agreement alone. This paper examines how small-state agency shapes the context in which India's security partnerships operate. It asks how Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh manage security relations with India while retaining options in a region affected by China–India competition. The study uses a qualitative, exploratory comparison of three cases, drawing on peer-reviewed research and publicly available official documents. It applies the concepts of small-state agency and strategic hedging, with realism providing context for asymmetric power and security competition. The paper argues that regional military diplomacy is a negotiated process: India's capabilities create influence and incentives for cooperation, while recipient governments interpret, adapt, and sometimes diversify relationships according to domestic priorities and external constraints. The cases differ significantly, so hedging should be treated as a proposition to assess rather than a uniform description of all three states. The paper concludes that sustainable partnerships require consultation, clear mutual benefits, institutional continuity, and respect for the independent policy choices of neighbouring states.
Keywords Military Diplomacy, Small-State Agency, South Asia, India, Strategic Hedging, Regional Security
Published In Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On 2026-10-12
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E-ISSN 2582-2160
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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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