India – Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership

Ambassador (Retired) Skand Tayal

India-Republic of Korea (ROK) bilateral relations were correct but cool till the end of the cold war and the emergence of ROK as a significant industrial power in the early 1990s.  The Korean Conglomerates were the first to discover the opportunities in the Indian market and India-ROK relations were fuelled by the private sector on both sides. The implementation of CEPA is a milestone but ROK needs to be more welcoming to India’s IT and pharmaceutical industry.  Defence, nuclear energy, space etc. offer new areas for joint R&D.

India and ROK are cooperating in East Asian regional structures.  There could be more co-ordination among ROK, India and Japan to ensure peace and stability in Asia. There is strong bipartisan support in both countries for a close strategic partnership and the countries are on course for a positive, co-operative and mutually beneficial long term relationship.  With a convergence in their strategic perceptions and core beliefs in a liberal, democratic and open society, India and ROK are also poised to work together to address regional security issues as well as  global economic challenges.

The relations between India and Republic of Korea (ROK) have been carefully nurtured by both sides and have now achieved maturity.  The relations are based on equality, mutual respect, goodwill and a largely similar worldview.

The breakthrough in India–ROK bilateral relations came with the then Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha  Rao’s  visit to ROK in 1993.  Prime Minister Rao met the Chairmen of the top Korean Chaebols and invited them to take advantage of the ongoing liberalisation of Indian economy.  Significant investments by Samsung, Lucky Goldstar (LG) and Hyundai Motors followed.  The entry of Korean Corporations inIndiain the late 1990s forms the bedrock of India-ROK economic relations.

A closer political relationship followed growing investment and trade contacts. India’s economic liberalisation and ‘look East Policy’ and ROKs search for new destinations for investment and markets provided a favourable background.  Following President Kim Young-sam’s visit in February 1996, a Joint Commission was established at Foreign Minister’s level.

Since then a framework of high level dialogue has been put in place with Secretary level Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue,Foreign Office Consultations, Track 2 interaction between ICRIER and Seoul International Forum and between ICWA and IFANS ;and regular meetings between Trade, Defense and other Senior Ministers.

During ROK President Roh Moo-hyun’s State visit in October 2004, the relationship was raised to a higher level of “Long-Term Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity”.  Recognizing the growing economic and strategic clout of the ROK,Indiainvited President Lee Myung-bak to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day in January 2010 when the bilateral relationship was elevated to the level of ‘Strategic Partnership’.

Strategic Partnership seals the stated objective of both the countries for a comprehensive and multi-dimensional relationship.  It implies a high degree of trust and confidence in each other’s strategic perceptions and an understanding that the strategic goals of the two countries largely converge.

For India“Strategic autonomy” is a stated principle of its global outreach and the basis ofIndia’s perusal of a non-aligned foreign policy.  This is in direct contrast to ROK’s alliance with theUnited Statesand its dependence on US for security.  But this is no longer an insurmountable barrier between India and ROK as India itself has gradually moved closer to theUnited States.  The strategic objectives ofIndia, ROK and theUnited Statesin East Asia and South Asia have converged in the areas of fight against terrorism, interest in peaceful rise of China and Security of maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean.

Both ROK and India have a rising profile inAsiaand are playing an increasingly global role particularly in economic policy issues.  Both have a hostile neighbour which emerged after their division at the time of independence and have to expend considerable energy in managing the relations with their twin. India is on course to become a global power and ROK an important middle power.  Both countries are basically status quo powers and are focused on their economic growth for which a peaceful “neighbourhood” is essential.