India’s global outreach in the past
fortnight created new vibes. Prime Minister Modi on his seven-day visit to the
US has launched an unparalleled diplomatic overdrive. Right from the day he
landed in Houston, with his unusual bonhomie, pragmatic vision and focussed
attention to detail he not only dispelled mendacious campaigns churned out by
paid agents but projected India as a country with a global vision.
Kicking off his American visit with
a stellar and electrifying Diaspora outreach, Modi shined at various mini
summits held along the sidelines of UNGA (United Nations General Assembly)
session. Putting India at the centre stage at different forums, Modi posited
India’s readiness to be global stake holder. Addressing Universal Health
Coverage and Climate Action summit, Modi spoke about the Ayushman Bharat
program catering to the health care needs of around 5 lakh families. As a
strong advocate of climate change, Modi apprised the International Community of
India’s pioneering efforts in increasing India’s renewable energy production, robust
energy efficiency policies including special concessions towards popularisation
and development of electric vehicles, proposed ban on the single use plastic.
At a time when US, has pulled out from the Paris Climate agreement, Modi
reaffirmed India’s pledge of committing to the Intended Nationally Determined
Contribution (NDC) declared in 2015. He invited nations to join India’s Modi
launched Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) at the Climate
Summit and invited nations to join India’s initiative.
In line with India’s policies of
strengthening renewable energy, Modi gifted $1 million Solar park to the UN.
The 193 solar panels representing member states of the UN, installed on the top
of the UN office at New York. Commemorating Gandhiji’s 150th birth
anniversary, India has planted 150 trees in the Centre Park and recounted his
message of peace and non-violence.
At the Leaders Dialogue on
Strategic Responses to Terrorist and Violent Extremist Narratives hosted by
King of Jordan, French President Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Modi called for “upgradation
of regional frameworks” for intelligence sharing. In an indirect reference to China’s decade
long blocking of India’s UN resolution on Masood Azhar he urged countries to
refrain from politicization of UN listings and FATF. In a departure from the
precedent of urging the UN to ensure inclusive growth and combat terrorism Modi
evinced India’s interest to play a key role in alleviating global challenges.
True to the fundamental spirit of “sab
ka saath, sab ka vikas”, Modi cemented developmental partnership with
Pacific Island countries. Attending the India-Pacific Islands Developing States
(PSIDS), Modi announced concessional credit of $150 million towards solar,
renewable and climate related projects apart from the $12 million grant for
high impact development projects ($1 million each) for the 12 Island states.
This outreach, an offshoot of the Forum for India Pacific Island Cooperation
(FIPIC) is a huge boost to India’s Act East Policy as well. Modi held first
summit with 15-member grouping of CARICOM (The Caribbean Community for Common
Market) leaders. With principle focus on climate action, Modi pledged $14
million grant for community development and $150 million credit line for solar,
renewable energy and climate related projects. Both Pacific Islands and CARICOM
have sizeable chunk of India Diaspora. Invoking the traditional connect, Modi
pledged to strengthen political, economic and cultural engagement with these
Island nations.
Overcoming characteristic reticence,
Modi affirmed assistance to the Island nations grappling with energy and
environmental challenges and positioned India as a reliable developmental
partner.
Modi’s developmental partnership
backed with concessionary credit line is in sharp contrast to China’s predatory
loans though hefty plunged nations into a debt trap. Neighbours India and China
have been jostling for global elevation. China with five times the Indian
economy has been successfully wooing smaller nations with its attractive
infrastructure loans under the ambit of the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative).
India’s immediate neighbourhood baring Bhutan joined the colossal global
connectivity program of China. Exuding its political and economic clout, China
began promoting socialism with Chinese characteristics. Dominating the
internationalism with its soft diplomacy and China has been slowly escaping
global censure for blatantly violating international order including
unspeakable human rights violations. Notably India is facing Chinese
encirclement, frequent incursion threats and surreptitious entry into its
backyard.
Striving towards bettering India’s
economic progress, Modi has chosen the developmental diplomacy as a key aspect
of his foreign policy doctrine. Revving up engagement with the international
community, Modi has been silently projecting India has a key global
player-responsible, reliable and peaceful. Through proactive advocacy and
championing of global causes, Modi is steadily increasing India’s relevance in
global context. In his first term Modi pushed for international recognition of
Yoga and popularised “Vasudaiva kutumbakam” (World is one family), a
cornerstone of India’s cultural ethos. Invoking thousands of years old pearls
of wisdom, in his address to UNGA, Modi offered an alternative course to the World
marred with turbulence and conflict.
India which can’t take on China
financially is building institutions for larger good of international
community. With France, India established an alternative energy bloc,
International Solar Alliance (ISA) now joined by 122 member countries. Learning
from its past mistakes, India is endeavouring to strengthen the multilateral
organisations it has started and contributing effectively to organisations it
is part of with new enthusiasm. During the formative years, India espoused
non-alignment, spurred a movement against western colonialism and rejected
apartheid. India which has been a natural leader. But sinking economy took
sheen off India’s idealism. Prioritising its developmental agenda, India
besides fostering economic engagement with the developed countries is lending
assistance in capacity building and other developmental projects for third
world countries.
Stepping up global outreach, Modi
held bilateral talks with leaders of Germany, Italy, Qatar, Columbia, Namibia,
Niger, Maldives, Bhutan, Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, Estonia, Armenia,
Cyprus, Iran and executive director of UNICEF. Besides focussing on improving
bilateral issues, Modi used this opportunity to state that Kashmir is an
integral part of India and that revocation of article 370 is an internal issue.
Pitching for a multilateralism, Modi
sought to hard-sell India. He invited American business honchos to invest in
India reflecting on its democratic credentials, demographic dividend and
demand. Deservedly earning “the Global Goalkeeper Award” from the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation for its Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, Modi emerged as symbol
of change and hope.
Picking from where Modi left,
External Affairs Minister, Jaishankar Subramanian met 42 foreign ministers,
held 36 bilateral meetings, 8 pull asides, 7 multilaterals and lectured at
three think-tanks at New York. In a span of seven days, Prime Minister-EAM duo
reached out to their global counterparts. To contemplate that this
unprecedented scale of engagement is meant for isolating Pakistan
diplomatically will be missing the wood for the trees. In fact, Modi’s
unparalleled diplomatic agenda bereft of resolve to indulge with Pakistan
points to a larger agenda of elevating India’s global stature. His deliberate
omission of any reference to Pakistan in his UNGA address suffice the same.
The sheer intensity of India’s
global engagement spearheaded by both the Prime Minister and EAM comes at time
when Pakistan has propped up anti-India smear campaign through its lobbyists.
While India avoided a collision course with Pakistan at the global platform,
war mongering jingoistic rants and nuclear threats issued by Pakistani Prime
Minister at the UNGA evidently laid bare Islamabad’s abominable agenda. Though
India effectively shredded Pakistani lies exercising right to reply, EAM
rightfully chose to re-educate the West about India’s aspirations.
After Prime Minister Modi departed
to India from New York, Indian czar of diplomacy, single-handedly demolished
false propaganda propped up by Pakistan. In a single day, he made appearance on
five morning talk shows. In three-days he delivered talks at five think-tanks
in Washington-Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Atlantic Council,
Centre for Strategic and International Studies, The Brookings Institution and
the Heritage Foundation. He also held talks with Secretary for State Mike
Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper, NSA Robert O’Brien and Acting Home
Secretary. In all his engagements, EAM explicitly stated India’s position on
Kashmir, countered Pakistan’s mendaciously subverted narrative. Enunciating
India’s global aspiration he comprehensively positioned India at a higher
pedestal vis-à-vis the epicentre of terror Pakistan.
Presenting shared strategic and
economic interests of India, Jaishankar hinted at New Delhi’s preparedness for
a larger global role. Open for strategic engagements and developmental
partnership, India is now jousting for place at global high table and
challenging the rise of Sino-centric Asia as desired by China.
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