Future Indian–South Korean ties: can Seoul use India to balance China?

Abstract India is an emerging great power and South Korea is a rising middle-ranking state. Both nations are democracies whose economies are increasingly intertwined. Seoul and New Delhi also share a potential problem—China. India often views Beijing as a possible enemy, while South Korean leaders have to be worried about maintaining their nation's independence in a world of expanding Chinese power. Therefore, this article will concentrate on the possibility of South Korea and India establishing a strategic relationship that goes beyond economics to include extended military ties. While analyzing the prospect for a robust strategic alliance between the two states, this paper will examine Indian–Korean economic ties, how Indians and South Koreans view China, the continued value of the Republic of Korea–United States alliance, what role Seoul's arms industry can play in India's military buildup, Indian foreign policy and strategic culture as it relates to Korea, and possible Chinese reactions to enhanced In...