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Why did Jawaharlal Nehru support nonalignment during the Cold War?

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Jawaharlal Nehru, c. 1930s — Jawaharlal Nehru As India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was in office for more than 16 years, making him the country's longest-serving prime minister.

Jawaharlal Nehru supported nonalignment during the Cold War primarily to protect India’s national interest and security while asserting its independence following colonial rule. By avoiding formal military alliances with either the United States or the Soviet Union, Nehru sought to prevent India from becoming a pawn in superpower confrontations and to preserve the country's sovereignty.123

Nehru’s foreign policy was guided by the Five Principles, or Panch Shila, which emphasized mutual respect for territorial integrity, nonaggression, noninterference in internal affairs, equality, and peaceful coexistence. He envisioned India as a leader of a "Third World" of nations that could promote peace and save the world from nuclear annihilation.1

Beyond these ideals, nonalignment served as a platform for India to:
* Promote Anti-colonialism: Initially, Nehru identified his foreign policy with the struggle against colonial and racist structures.14
* Maintain Strategic Autonomy: By remaining "nonengaged," India aimed to pursue its own development and act as a mediator in international affairs.52
* Foster Global Cooperation: Nehru helped found the Non-Aligned Movement to give developing nations a collective voice in world politics.26