The Significance of India in Foreign Policy of the European Union and Japan

Introduction. In the context of the transformation of the modern international system and the intensification of competition in the Indo-Pacific region, the importance of searching for sustainable models of interaction between states is increasing. The relevance of the study is determined by Russia’s regional interests, the growing strategic role of India, the intensification of the policies of the EU and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the insufficient examination of the issue of India’s place in their foreign policy concepts. The aim of the study is to identify the role of India in the strategies of the EU and Japan, as well as to assess the prospects for their alignment in the regional context.
Materials and methods. The empirical base consists of official documents of the EU, Japan, and India, materials of international organizations, analytical publications, and scientific studies. The methodological basis is formed by a systems approach, comparative analysis, and elements of foresight analysis, which make it possible to identify key trends and forecast the development of strategic interaction between actors in the region.
Results. It has been identified that India is one of the key partners of Japan in ensuring regional security and developing infrastructure connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region. India is also considered, from the EU’s perspective, to be a significant factor in the region’s energy and infrastructure transformation. Among the areas of convergence in the foreign policy discourses of Japan and the European Union, the following stand out: ensuring energy security and freedom of navigation in the region, as well as the development of infrastructure projects of macro-regional significance.
Discussion. The analysis has shown that the approaches of the EU and Japan to interaction with India are complementary. Japan places emphasis on pragmatic and operational implementation of infrastructure projects and security issues, whereas the EU adheres to a normative-institutional model with priority on sustainable development and ESG standards.
Conclusion. India acts as a key link between the strategies of the EU and Japan, contributing to the formation of a multipolar Indo-Pacific architecture. The prospects for cooperation are associated with deepening cooperation in infrastructure, energy, and digital spheres, as well as institutionalization of trilateral interaction, contributing to strengthening regional stability, sustainable development, and global significance. Additionally, the results may be used in developing foreign policy strategies and analytical assessment of regional integration and international cooperation processes, which are of interest to Russia during a global transformation of the world order.