Comprehensive Overview of Modi’s Foreign Policy Doctrine

Speaking at the Foundation for Public Awareness and Policy (FPAP), New India Series, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Smt. Sushma Swaraj expounded that safeguarding national interests and “vasudaivakutumbakam” or “the world is one family” are pillars of Modi’s foreign policy doctrine. After Narendra Modi’s ascension to power, there has been a paradigm shift in India’s relations with the comity of nations. Much to the amazement of dissenters who scoffed Modi’s abilities, in the past five years, India managed to cement strong ties with adversaries Saudi Arabia and Iran, US and Russia, Israel and Palestine, simultaneously with exceptional ease and vivacity. Of the 193 UN countries (including India), India engaged with 189 countries during Modi’s tenure. The unprecedented diplomatic outreach has been the cornerstone of Modi’s foreign policy which included extensive travelling. Political adversaries often criticise Modi for visiting overseas countries without understanding the agenda and policy of the government. In five years, Modi visited 59 countries in 41 foreign trips, President and Vice President travelled 66 countries and the army of Indian diplomats headed by the EAM covered 64 countries to renew, reengage and revitalise India’s ties with countries across the globe. As a young nation with immense potential for growth and development, the onus is on India to actively engage with other countries. While political parties would rather reluctantly acknowledge India’s global stature, proactive global outreach helped New Delhi to assert, position and project itself as a responsible player.

Swaraj enumerated various instances where Modi’s close interactions with Heads of States helped India to deal challenging situations. At the height of Yemeni military turmoil in April 2015, India had to evacuate over 4000 Indians. Sustained air strikes and non stop gun battle between Yemeni militants and Coalition forces headed by Saudi Arabia posed a formidable challenge to rescue people stranded in Yemen. Prime Minister Modi who established a close rapport with Saudi King Abdullah at 2014, Brisbane G-20 Summit, sought his help in evacuating stranded citizens. King assured that air strikes would be stopped for two hours every day for one week. Through the meticulously planned Operation Raahat, overseen by Gen. V. K. Singh, Junior EAM, India not only rescued its citizens but 960 foreign citizens from 38 countries including three persons from Pakistan.

Despite its aspirations to be part of nuclear export regimes, India managed to get a waiver from Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008. Giving huge fillip to country’s nuclear objectives, Modi government worked assiduously to get membership into three elite nuclear regimes- Missile Technology and Control Regime (MTCR), The Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australian Group by the end of 2018. India became full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2017 entering a new realm of expansion of ties with Eurasian region. By virtue of India’s adept diplomatic lobbying, India got re-elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Of the 15 judges in the ICJ, based in the Hague, five members retire every three years for a nine-year tenure. Against the five vacancies, France, Somalia, Brazil, Lebanon got elected to the four seats. India and UK vied for the fifth seat. After 11 rounds of voting, India’s Dalveer Bhandari got 183 votes of UNGA and 9 members of UNSC voted in favour of India. UK withdrew after the 12^th round and India got elected to ICJ by securing the 15 votes of UNSC. For the first time since its existence in 1945, ICJ had no British judge. This victory symbolised India’s rise internationally. Thanks to Modi’s strategy of selling India, country has attracted $239 billion in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) since 2014. Countries are showing great interest in investing in India’s new initiatives like Make in India, Skill India, Smart Cities, Swacch Bharat and others.

Branded as a Pro-Hindu party, after Modi’s ascension to power, critics procrastinated deterioration of India’s ties with Muslim world. Proving the sceptics wrong, Modi cemented ties with the Arab World. Saudi Arabia conferred Modi with highest civilian honour- the King Abdul Aziz Sash while Palestine awarded Grand Collar of the State of Palestine for his contribution towards promoting bilateral ties. For the first time in 2018, in recognition of strategic partnership, Saudi Arabia accorded “Guest of Honour” status to India at Janadriyah Festival. Indeed, after fifty years of India’s diplomatic embarrassment at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), popularly termed as Rabaat fiasco, UAE invited India as the guest of honour at OIC commemorating the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the existence of OIC. Despite strident protestations from Pakistan, founder member of OIC, UAE refused to rescind India’s invitation. These developments were in sharp contrast to Rabaat fiasco when Indian delegation was forced to return without attending even single session of 1969 OIC Inaugural meet after Pakistani President Yahya Khan expressed serious reservations to India’s presence. India has thus come a long way, reclaiming its lost glory and respect at the second largest intergovernmental organisation.

Replacing the term assistance with developmental partnership, Modi government has energised India’s close ties with African countries. Unlike the previous versions when select African nations participated in the strategic forum meetings, the Third Indo-African Summit of 2015 for the first-time extended invitation to all African nations. Representatives from all 54 countries attended the meet which included 39 Heads of State. To sustain and infuse fresh momentum Ministry of External Affairs has opened division of Development Partnership.

Post-independence, India wasted nearly four decades of independent existence due to its misplaced obsession towards resolving outstanding issues with Pakistan. To reset India’s ties with neighbouring countries, even before his inauguration, Modi unveiled, Neighbourhood First Policy. Swiftly moving away from the agenda of engaging with Western neighbour Pakistan, Modi attempted to revamp and nurture ties with immediate neighbours. Due to India’s focussed approach, New Delhi is now celebrated as the most reliable developmental partner of war-torn Afghanistan. Unlike other countries, India continues to pitch for a “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-owned peace process”. India’s ties with Bhutan reached new heights. Emblematic of a win-win scenario, India and Bangladesh are now partners in mutually beneficial economic development programs. India’s “Patient Diplomacy” towards Maldives finally yielded results. Democracy was restored in the Archipelago and Prime Minister Modi attended the swearing in ceremony of Mohammed Solih laying firm foundation for strong friendly relations. For the first time in seventeen years, Modi became the first Prime Minister to visit Nepal in the first year his tenure. During his visit, Modi addressed the Parliament, extended all possible support to Nepal to emerge as a stable democracy. After some hiccups in 2015, Indo-Nepalese relations have stabilised now. Annihilating misunderstanding through his bilateral visits, invoking civilizational, cultural, religious and historical ties with the island nation, India revived its ties with Sri Lanka.

Holding a testimony to Modi’s diplomatic acumen, foresight and statesmanship, Swaraj reiterated that Prime Minister keen on having friendly ties with neighbouring countries invited all SAARC members to his swearing-in ceremony. The arrival of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s to the event paved way for India’s fresh engagement with the neighbour under the new leadership. The following day, Modi and Sharif held bilateral talks and agreed to start foreign secretary level talks and bilateral trade through the Wagah-Attari border. Despite some ups and downs, honouring Pakistan’s invitation, EAM, Swaraj travelled to attend the Heart of Asia (HoA) summit at Islamabad. Responding to Pakistan’s call for peace talks, Swaraj even announced commencement of NSA dialogue and initiated Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue on December 9^th, 2015. Soon, Prime Minister Modi took an out-of-box initiative and made an impromptu visit to Lahore to wish Prime Minister Sharif on his birthday on December 25^th. Notwithstanding India’s friendly gestures and good will visit, Pakistan reciprocated India by launching attacks on Pathankot air base. Though miffed by Pakistan, upon Sharif’s request, India allowed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Pakistan to access Pathankot air base to investigate the attacks. Since then, Indo-Pakistan relations began to deteriorate due to Pakistan’s unabated terror attacks on India.

India’s strategic patience reached a tipping point by the Pulwama attacks which led to death of 40 security personnel. After the attack, India reached out to several nations which expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, condemned terror attacks but were wary of escalation of hostilities between nuclear powers. Addressing the fears of international community, India promised not to unilaterally escalate tensions. But Post-Pulwama India insisted that it will not remain silent if Pakistan launches any attack on India. India waited for ten days anticipating strong action against terror outfits by Pakistani government. As usual Pakistan dilly-dallied and even denied existence of JeM on its territory. On the thirteenth day, India carried out limited strikes against the terror camps after Pakistan showed no interest in restraining the terror outfits. IAF entered Pakistani territory and struck the JeM’s training camp at Balakot. India’s precision strikes caused no damage to the live and property of civilians. Soon Pakistani aircrafts entered India’s air space and targeted India’s military installations. During the talk, Swaraj strongly defended India’s right to carry out strikes owing to Pakistan’s failure to act on terror agencies and reports from intelligence agencies which warned of more attacks from JeM. She questioned Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes since India targeted terror camps of JeM. And added “Why did Pakistani military attack us on behalf of JeM? You not only keep JeM on your soil, you fund them and when victim country retaliates, you attack it on terror outfit’s behalf”.

Swaraj reiterated, “terror and talks can’t go together, if Imran Khan is so generous and statesman, he should give us Masood Azhar”. Assuring that India is keen on having good relationship with Pakistan provided the country takes action against the terror groups operating from its territory. Pakistan’s military says that JeM doesn’t exist in their country. She reminded that back in 2011, Pakistan denied the presence of Osama bin Laden, but American Navy SEALS found in Abbottabad. She minced no words in exposing Pakistani lies, falsehood and subterfuge.

Swaraj asserted that India’s global profile has improved in the past five years. India’s astounding diplomatic success to its resolution of celebrating June 21^st as International Yoga Day vouches for India’s rise as global player. In record 75 days, India managed to garner support of 177 countries to pass the resolution. Even orthodox Muslim state, Saudi Arabia embraced Yoga and included it under sports category. At the multilateral forums, India is now playing major role in setting an agenda. At Brisbane G-20, India brought Black Money to the high table, the 11-point action agenda on terrorism presented by India became part of Hamburg Declaration. India presented 9-point agenda on fugitive economic offenders at Buenos Aires G-20. India’s invaluable contribution towards climate change through International Solar Alliance (ISA) along with France is hailed internationally. Based in Gurugram, ISA has 73 signatories. Exemplary Diaspora engagement has become hallmark of Modi’s doctrine. Prime Minister’s diaspora outreach has enhanced confidence of the Indian community abroad who are feeling more connected with motherland. Indian Embassy have reincarnated themselves as “home away from home”. Over 2000 Indians in distress were rescued in response to their appeals on Twitter in the five years. Gearing up for larger global responsibilities, India is now intensely campaigning for UN reforms and expansion of UNSC with G-4 countries which includes Brazil, Japan, Germany and Brazil. India is strongly rallying for a permanent membership at UNSC with veto.

Under the Act East Policy, employing the twin connects of Buddhism and Ramayana, India is furthering its ties with ASEAN countries. Asserting ASEAN-centrality in the Indo-Pacific region, India is now gaining the trust and confidence of ASEAN. Besides, India is now extensively engaging with different groups like Arab League and planning to hold annual summit meets with GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and Central Asian countries along the margins of UNGA (UN General Assembly) meetings. Concluding her meticulous conversation on Modi’s doctrine, Swaraj remarked “Competition and Cooperation” best describes Indo-Chinese relationship.

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