Chapter Twelve

Strategic Smallness in South Asia: Leveraging Influence Among Giants

Shyam Tekwani and Saumya Sampath

We may be small, but that does not give you the license to bully us.
— Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Maldives, upon his return from a triumphant visit to China, Velana Airport, January 2024.

Abstract

Caught between the strategic ambitions of India and China, South Asia’s less powerful states navigate a delicate balance to safeguard their sovereignty and advance their development goals. This chapter examines how these smaller nations could leverage multilateral platforms to diversify alliances, amplify their global voices, and reduce reliance on dominant powers. It explores their challenges, strategies, and successes in transforming geopolitical vulnerabilities into strengths while pursuing stability and sustainable growth in a multipolar world.

https://doi.org/10.71236/JMPE2591