INDIA’S rising stature in world politics and the accompanying changes in the international order have assured it a position as one of the leading global voices today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visits to Japan, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia saw India asserting itself in global forums as well as formulating alliances in the Indo Pacific to guard its interests.
India has also emerged as the leader of the Global South which lends it even greater strength on the world stage.
At the G7 Summit in Japan, PM Modi met world leaders, and also Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time. While the Ukraine conflict has thrown many challenges before the world, it is to the credit of India that it has walked a fine line of diplomacy. It has refused to censure Russia for its actions in Ukraine, keeping its own interests in mind while also remaining firmly engaged with the western world.
Much credit goes to PM Modi for the deft handling of this crisis. Even within the Quad, other nations have now come around to accepting India’s position.
Indo-Pacific focus
In Tokyo, the PM attended the Quad Summit on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. The Quad today is one of the most influential groupings in the world as much attention shifts to the IndoPacific region. It is again credit to PM Modi that even bilaterally India today shares a great relationship with the Quad members from Japan to the US to Australia. The PM’s upcoming State visit to the US next month is another pointer in this direction. It will be the third State visit hosted by US President Joe Biden during his tenure so far.
The visit to PNG saw the tremendous respect and warmth that the world holds for India today – from the airport where PNG Prime Minister James Marape touched the PM’s feet in a gesture of great respect, to his comments where he urged India to be the Voice of the Global South in forums such as G7 and G20.
Motherland connect
In Australia, the diaspora strength drove home the point of how connected Indians remain to their motherland. And the Australian PM Anthony Albanese referred to PM Modi as ‘the boss’, in an acknowledgment of India’s growing stature. India and Australia have come closer over the last few years in economic and defence areas but also over common concerns with regards to the rise of China. Both leaders expressed their keenness to deepen the ties.
There can be little doubt that India today has emerged as a very strong voice on the global stage. A permanent seat for India in a restructured United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which will also be reflective of the present world, is something that needs to happen soon. India, home to the world’s largest democracy and one of the world’s fastest growing economies, is fast emerging as one of the centres of power in the world. The strong leadership of PM Modi has also ensured that the world recognises India’s potential and what it has to offer the world.
