FRIENDS FIRST

 

 

 

 

 

MR. NARENDRA Modi is all set to be sworn in as Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term. The heads of the friendly countries in India’s neighbourhood have been invited to attend the historic swearing-in ceremony, and they have accepted the invitation happily. Strengthening the ties with the neighbouring countries has been a hallmark of Mr. Modi’s foreign policy and this outreach is going to continue in ‘Modi 3.0’ too. When Mr. Modi became the Prime Minister for the first time in 2014, then also the heads of member-States of regional grouping South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) had attended the swearing-in ceremony. In 2019, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) countries had attended Mr. Modi’s second swearing-in. Now, as he is set to take oath as the Prime Minister for the third time, Mr. Modi has again focussed on the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Bangladesh Prime Minister Ms. Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan Prime Minister Mr. Tshering Tobgay, Nepal President Mr. Pushpakamal Dahal (Prachanda), Mauritius Prime Minister Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, Maldives President Mr. Mohamed Muizzu, Sri Lanka President Mr. Ranil Wicremesinghe, and Seychelles President of Indian Origin Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan are going to attend Mr. Modi’s swearing in.

 

The significance of this continued emphasis on strengthening ties with the neighbouring countries cannot be missed by the close observers of geopolitics. For any country, a friendly neighbourhood helps in creating and maintaining an atmosphere of trust, peace, economic co-operation, and shared prosperity. Gradually, it helps the region assert itself as a multi-sectoral grouping having own position of strength in the global order and supply chain. This, ultimately, paves way for growth-oriented collective effort and respect for the spirit of multilateralism. India has always been thinking and acting along this line. Hence, on umpteen occasions Mr. Modi has emphasised on the virtue of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). Being well aware of its responsibility of being the geographically, culturally, economically, and strategically biggest power in the region, India has extended co-operation to its neighbours through ‘Look East’ policy. Also, in the pursuit of ties deeper than those of transactional nature, India has not shied away from asserting her right by keeping a distance from the hegemonistic Communist China and terror-harbouring Pakistan. During COVID-19 pandemic, India acted as pharmacy for the neighbours as well as the world.

 

When hegemonistic China’s debt trap landed Sri Lanka in crisis, India proved to be the first responder. Similarly, India has been helping Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal. If the co-operation is in the domain of Blue Economy in case of Bangladesh, it is in the domain of Mountain Economy in case of Bhutan. With Nepal, cultural ties and tourism play a major role. Each of the neighbours has its own strength. India happily extends co-operation to power each other’s growth. At the same time, India under Mr. Modi is not afraid of sending out right message as she did to Maldives when it tried to damage relations with India at the behest of China. But, as is proven from Mr. Modi inviting Maldivian President Mr. Muizzu to swearing-in ceremony, India does not want conflict. This relationship with neighbours stands on strong foundation of mutuality of relationship, commonality of cultural context, and cordiality of shared civilisational history. The invitation to the neighbours sends out the positive message that this bond will be strengthened in ‘Modi 3.0’.