First foreign policy move under Modi 3.0
Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term
By IAR Desk
Modi 3.0 has made its first foreign policy move. In his third innings as Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has invited heads of states and governments of countries in the neighborhood in South Asia and Indian Ocean Rim to his swearing in ceremony.
Amongst the many high profile guests present today at the ceremony were the President of Srilanka Ranil Wikramasinghe, President Mohammed Moizzu of the Maldives, Vice President of the Seychelles Ahmed Afif, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Haseena, Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jagganauth, Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Tseringh Tobgai, the Prime Minister of Bhutan.
This has been in keeping with Modi’s “Neighborhood First” policy articulated during Modi 1.0.
It has also been while keeping an eye on China which is ever expanding its footprint in South Asia, which India considers its natural sphere of influence.
Laat nth Maldives President Moizzu forced the departure of Indian military personnel from the island state as Muizzu increased cooperation with China.
China has been making deep forays in Bangladesh with its many investments in the investment hungry country.
Bhutan is fast becoming an arena of competing interest between India and China, but continues its traditional dependency on India for markets and connectivity.
Nepal, another state heavily dependent on India for markets, resources, and connectivity, is set to enter into a defence and economic agreement with China.
In 2022 Sri Lanka collapsed under a debt trap. India threw a credit helpline to Sri Lanka to help it cope with its multi-billion dollar debt to China.
Modi becomes the first, since India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962, to become prime minister of the country for a third consecutive term.
