India is gradually showing that it has more to offer than yoga and Bollywood movies. More than the intricate and nerve-calming poses and award-winning movies, the south Asian country has become a formidable actor on the international scene.
For the past two months, the Asian spice hub as so to say “seasoned” relations that seemed bland with its unique “aromatic” blend in the form of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who has stepped up efforts to bolster mutually beneficial ties.
Modi has been making visits to other countries and just like the incense sticks his country produces, he has been emitting the fragrance of soft diplomatic power.
After the G7 summit in May, he made a stop in Australia where he struck new agreements with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese on migration as well as green hydrogen and reinforced their commitment to an open, prosperous and secure” Indo-Pacific region.
In June, Modi visited U.S where he had talks with President Joe Biden and addressed the Congress.
It so happens to be that on Thursday, July 14, 2023, the Indian Premier was in France for a two day visit. He was the guest of honour for the Bastille Day celebration. What’s more, Modi was conferred with the France’s highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, by President Emmanuel Macron. He sets the record as the first Indian Prime Minister to receive to recieve such honour.
The award, one of the most famous in the world, sets India high on the recognition pedestal, as it adds to the numerous top honours Modi has received from countries across the world.
All these are shimmering embellishments to India’s international outlook.
France’s longstanding relationship with India comes to fore in the defence agreements inked during Modi’s visit.
Steps have also been made by U.S in promoting good ties. U.S Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen has made her third visit to India in nine months.
Despite having a good foreign policy, India is not spared from domestic chaos. Currently, the state of Manipur has been engulfed in an ethnic conflict which has resulted in the death of many.
Also, Modi’s government is accused of suppressing Muslim and other minorities’ rights, as well as press freedom.
A Superpower?
Considering the various international engagements, coupled with many countries’ decision to de-risk from China, India is fast becoming an Asian power.
Its population as well as its economy makes it a force to reckon with.
However, India’s relationship with its northern neighbour, China has been complex in recent years especially due to deadly clashes emerging along the Himalayan border between the two nations and India also banning hundreds of China-owned apps from operating in the country. The ban affects apps such as TikTok, and 5G services from industry giants; Huawei and ZTE.
Interestingly, India is a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, also known as Quad, along with the US, Japan and Australia, which is aimed at containing China.
Yet India is also a member of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), two largely economic multilateral groups that seek to boost cooperation between member nations. Both groups are dominated by China.
Meanwhile, Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, told his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, that the two countries need to stabilize their ties when they met last week on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Jakarta.
This signals that in the meantime, India-China relations may remain at least moderately healthy.
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