The principles of India’s foreign policy include respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, belief in peaceful coexistence and peaceful resolution of international disputes. One of the main factors influencing foreign policy is the political leadership of the country. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech spelt out the core feature of India’s foreign policy i.e., friendly relations with England, USA and Soviet Union.
He was a co-founder of the Non- Aligned Movement and opted not to be a part of any military alliance. Prime Ministers who have played an important role in India’s foreign policy include Lai Bahadur Shastri (Indo-Pak war 1965 and Tashkent Agreement) Indira Gandhi (Indo-Pak war, 1971 and Shimla Agreement) Rajiv Gandhi (peacekeeping force to Sri Lanka, 1987), Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.
