India's Selective Participation in the Indo‐Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF): A Strategic Autonomy Perspective

ABSTRACT This paper examines India's selective participation in the Indo‐Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) through the lens of strategic autonomy and hedging theory. Specifically, we investigate the following: Why does India engage selectively with IPEF pillars rather than committing fully, and what factors explain this calibrated approach? Using a framework that identifies external geopolitical pressures, economic interdependence with China, domestic political economy constraints, and normative preferences for autonomy as key determinants, the study analyzes India's decision to join three of the four IPEF pillars while maintaining observer status in trade negotiations. Our findings reveal that India's selective engagement represents a deliberate hedging strategy designed to maximize economic benefits from US‐led regional integration while preserving policy flexibility in relations with China and protecting domestic stakeholders. This approach reflects broader tensions facing middle powers in navigating great power competition and demonstrates how strategic autonomy functions as both constraint and enabler in contemporary economic diplomacy.