India, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific Balance

India, with one of the world's largest populations and economies, is widely regarded by analysts as a pivotal "swing state" in contemporary great-power competition. India was a founding participant, alongside leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Josip Broz Tito, and Gamal Abdel Nasser, in the Non-Aligned Movement launched in Belgrade in 1961, reflecting a long-standing preference for avoiding formal alliance blocs. Economic liberalization beginning in 1991 accelerated India's growth and global economic integration, while its expanding military and diplomatic weight, together with its wariness of both Chinese and, at times, Pakistani actions, has made it an increasingly sought-after partner for other major powers, most notably the United States.