New Delhi, June 11 -- In recent years, the term "strategic" has become increasingly prominent in the European Union's diplomatic jargon, from "strategic autonomy" to "strategic partnerships".

It reflects the EU's evolving ambition to be a more assertive global actor in the fast-changing global geopolitics. But while it may sound impressive, the term is often used ambiguously raising important questions about its actual substance and impact.

Strategic in EU diplomacy implies a long-term, interests-driven, and value-based approach to policymaking and international engagement.

In short, while "strategic" may serve as a diplomatic charm word, its true value depends on substance, not semantics. For countries like India, being labelled a str...