Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
India

Globe-Trotter Narendra Modi Has His Sight Set On Foreign Policy

Darpan News Desk IANS, 15 Dec, 2015 12:23 PM
    He may have been in the firing line of opposition leaders for his frequent visits abroad but Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems undeterred by the flak - and even the jokes on his foreign visits - to set a new benchmark for India's foreign policy initiatives and make India a global power.
     
    In just over 18 months after becoming prime minister, Modi has already visited 30 countries, three of them - the United States, France and Nepal seeing two visits each. His first visit, within 20 days of assuming office, was to closest neighbour Bhutan in June 2014.
     
    That Modi is not in any foreign holiday mode can be gauged from his hectic schedules in all the countries he has visited so far and the number of summit meetings with top leaders, including US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameroon, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the heads of state and government rulers of the other countries.
     
     
    From the tiny island country Fiji to economic giants like the US and Japan, Modi has ensured that he leads by example on the diplomatic front to engage with other countries for economic and strategic interests. Modi's mission certainly is aimed at catapulting India to a global power in the coming years.
     
    But in doing so, Modi is not trying to usurp the role of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) or for that matter of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
     
    Though Sushma Swaraj is generally not part of Modi's foreign entourage, she certainly should not be feeling left out.
     
    The minister has herself been criss-crossing the globe in the same period - having been to 28 countries as well, clearly indicating the importance the Modi government is attaching to foreign policy matters and getting India the tag of a world power in the future.
     
    Swaraj, like Modi, too is not on any junket and is ensuring India's diplomatic outreach and strategic partnerships in the present and the future.
     
     
    President Pranab Mukherjee has travelled to 10 countries in six state visits after the Modi government took over. Vice President Hamid Ansari has travelled abroad thrice in the same period.
     
    Modi has addressed lawmakers in various countries - from Australia to the United States - but his penchant seems to be in a rockstar role in addressing biggish gatherings of Indians settled abroad. From his first mega-show at New York's Madison Square Garden to stadia in Sydney and Dubai to the recent show at London's iconic Wembley Stadium (where even British Prime Minister David Cameroon was present), Modi has created an image of being a hit with NRIs.
     
    "Narendra Modi's foreign policy initiatives have realized the true potential and role of the world's largest democracy, India, on the world stage," the website of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) states, making it clear where he wants to see India in the coming years.
     
    Modi's foreign policy initiatives are not only offshore.
     
    He assumed office with a bang by getting the top leaders of all the SAARC countries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to attend his swearing-in in New Delhi on May 26, 2014.
     
     
    "Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to embark on a bilateral visit to Nepal after a long period of 17 years, to Australia after 28 years, to Fiji after 31 years and the Seychelles after 34 years. He became the first PM of India to visit Mongolia. 
     
    Modi has attached great importance to strong ties with the Arab world. His visit to the UAE in August 2015, the first by an Indian PM in 34 years, covered tremendous ground in enhancing India's economic partnership with the Gulf," the PMO website states, listing the importance that his government is attaching to engaging with countries which seemed to have been lost on India's foreign policy radar in the last few decades as the emphasis continued on the big western powers.
     
    Modi has addressed the UN General Assembly, actively participated in the India-Africa Forum, BRICS, SAARC and G-20 Summits and attended other international conferences in Paris, Kuala Lumpur and other cities.
     
    On home ground too, Modi has not let off on the diplomatic front.
     
    He invited US President Barack Obama to be the chief guest at the 2015 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26 - a first in Indo-US ties - hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad and New Delhi, had his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott visiting and hosted President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.
     
     
    Though Modi has not yet touched base on the African continent, the historic India-Africa Summit was held in New Delhi in October at which all the 54 African nations were represented - perhaps the first time this has happened outside the continent. Modi also held bilateral meetings with several African leaders during the event.
     
    Modi has, with visits to pricipal central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as also Mongolia, has indicated his government wanted to secure strategic ties with them.
     
    And, as the year is being closed, it was announced that Modi would be visiting Islamabad next year for the SAARC summit. This, on the back of renewed India-Pakistan ties and the renewal of their composite dialogue.
     
    There perhaps couldn't have been a better way to end the year.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Prashant Bhushan Slams Kejriwal Government's Lokpal Bill

    Prashant Bhushan Slams Kejriwal Government's Lokpal Bill
     Terming the anti-graft Jan Lokpal bill drafted by the Arvind Kejriwal government a watered-down version of the original legislation, expelled AAP leader Prashant Bhushan on Saturday denounced it as a farce and a fraud on the people.

    Prashant Bhushan Slams Kejriwal Government's Lokpal Bill

    'Get Out!' Haryana Health Minister Tells Woman Officer, She Stays Put - Watch!

    'Get Out!' Haryana Health Minister Tells Woman Officer, She Stays Put - Watch!
    Haryana's outspoken Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij on Friday ordered a woman police officer to "get out" of a meeting. When she refused, he himself stormed out in a huff.

    'Get Out!' Haryana Health Minister Tells Woman Officer, She Stays Put - Watch!

    No Breakthrough On GST In Modi-Congress Meet, More Talks Soon

    No Breakthrough On GST In Modi-Congress Meet, More Talks Soon
    The Congress party leaders would be discussing it within their own party and there would be after sometime a fresh contact between the government and them to discuss the subject further

    No Breakthrough On GST In Modi-Congress Meet, More Talks Soon

    Patiala Journalist Baltej Pannu Arrested In Rape Case

    Patiala Journalist Baltej Pannu Arrested In Rape Case
    Patiala district police have arrested radio and social media commentator Baltej Pannu in a rape case lodged by a social activist.

    Patiala Journalist Baltej Pannu Arrested In Rape Case

    RSS India's No.1 Terror Group: Former Mumbai Police Officer

    RSS India's No.1 Terror Group: Former Mumbai Police Officer
    Claiming that RSS activists have been indicted in at least 13 terror cases across India, former Maharashtra inspector general of police S.M. Mushrif on Thursday described the Hindutva outfit as India's No.1 terrorist organisation.

    RSS India's No.1 Terror Group: Former Mumbai Police Officer

    'Secular' Angle Takes Over Constitution Debate In Lok Sabha

    'Secular' Angle Takes Over Constitution Debate In Lok Sabha
    A discussion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday on the Constitution and its chief architect B.R. Ambedkar went on a different trajectory as Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed "secular" the most misused word 

    'Secular' Angle Takes Over Constitution Debate In Lok Sabha