From defining strategic autonomy to regained regional supremacy: Modi Doctrine in Indian Foreign policy

On 26, May 2014, Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi took an oath as India’s Prime Minister and the new era of Indian foreign policy started and India took a giant leap towards becoming the influential country on the International spectrum.

Today world is based on the labyrinth of international relations. After devastating I and II world wars, today world is settled with various international scenarios. India is one of the most important and leading country Internationally. After Independence, India stalwartly stands in with its own unique strategy of Non-alignment, with this stance, India created its own place on the International platform.

In the period of 1960-1999, India witnessed wars with neighboring countries. Indo-China war 1962, is a major strategic lesson for India so far. The Indo-Pak wars of 1965, 1971 and 1999 are major events of where India outshine with strategic intelligence. In 1971, India actively took part in the creation of Bangladesh. This move is one of the cleverest moves of Indian Foreign policy.

But in the decades of 2000-2010, India witnessed the ‘black age’ of the foreign policy.

But in 2014, the new ray of hope, the new sun rose in Indian diplomacy, and the Modi Doctrine of Indian Foreign Policy took a dive in the International skies.

Yes, it is Modi Doctrine! Because PM Narendra Modi and his Ministry of Foreign affairs rolled their sleeves with new enthusiasm to create a special place for India in international equations. The appreciation is not only for Mr. Narendra Modi but also to his Foreign policy team.

PM Modi’s first foreign policy outlook was revealed during the run-up for the Prime Ministerial candidature in his party in 2013 when he is one of the speakers in the ‘Network 18’ program called “Think India, Dialogue forum”. Where he outlined three major points of his foreign policy doctrine-

• Improving relations with immediate neighbors would be his priority as peace and composure in South Asia is essential for realizing his development agenda.

• Significantly Narendra Modi pledged to introduce the concept of Para-Diplomacy in India where each state and cities would have the liberty to forge special relation with countries or federal states or even cities of their interest.

• Bilateral trade going to dominate the relations with most countries except few important global powers with which India shares a strategic partnership.

Even before Modi’s formal entry in Prime Minister Office, as a PM-elect Narendra Modi prepared his maiden foreign policy move by inviting all the heads of states or governments of India’s neighbors. In the Modi’s swearing-in ceremony highlighted all the SAARC leaders. Most importantly, Lobsang Sangay, the Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-in-Exile, was also spotted seating in the spectator’s gallery.

This move by PM Modi made a significant influence on all the neighboring countries.

In the next two and a half year, Narendra Modi vigorously traveled through the world and created personal and national connection all over the world.

The most important change happened due to Narendra Modi’s entry in Indian Foreign policy making is that he challenged his senior diplomats to positioned India as a strong and leading country rather than the balancing power, which is traditional role of India in International spectrum, due to new determination, the whole Indian foreign bureaucracy evolved drastically.

The statement of Vijay Gokhale in ‘Raisina dialogues’ justified this determination, He said, “India has moved from its non-aligned past. India is today an aligned state-but based on issues”.

About India’s role change from path followers to path leaders, Vijay Gokhale said, “Underscoring that it’s time India became part of the rule-making process, in the rule-based order, India would have a stronger position in multilateral institutions”.

Most importantly, in the earlier models of Indian Foreign policy, Indian political intellectuals maintain an anti-block or in recent years, Anti-Americanism, Modi used his key mandate to shape a new bilateral partnership with the US to connect with its economic power and technological advancement. On this strong foundation of bilateral relations, Modi never hesitates to position India as a challenge to China’s growing regional power and aggressiveness.

Due to the policy initiatives and personal connection with leaders, in the Middle East, India has proclaimed herself like never before. The clear proof of this influence is the invitation of the inaugural address of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for the 1st time in the last 50 years.

Modi Doctrine got name due to the policy initiatives taken up by the Modi government. The major foreign policy initiatives are-

Act East Policy-

From the beginning, the Modi government made it clear that their prime focus is on the improvement of relations with ASEAN and other East Asian countries. So the ‘Look East Policy’ which was formulated in 1992 was transformed into more proactive policy for better economic, security and strategic partnerships with an emphasis on the more active role of India in this region.

Neighborhood First policy-

One of the most important enterprises taken by the Modi government is to focus on its immediate neighbor in South Asia. India initiated her interest in many incidents like launching the schemes together like India-Pakistan Kartarpur corridor or Bangladesh PM and Modi jointly inaugurated various developmental projects. On the similar ground, on the 2nd day of his tenure, Modi held bilateral talks with all the heads of state individually.

Indian Ocean Outreach-

Due to growing Chinese strategic presence in Indian Ocean Region (IOR), to limit this presence, India started to associate with her maritime neighbors in the IOR with the proposals of enhancing economic and security cooperation. The visits of heads of different IOR states and Modi’s personal state visits with various bilateral agreements are the fruitation of this initiative.

Project Mausam is a counter-policy by the Modi government to China’s strategic initiative of ‘maritime silk road’. This project is still progressing with the Ministry of Culture, which focus on the ancient trade and cultural linkage and emphasizes on future maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region extending from Southeast Asia to East Asia with the central location of India.

Forum of India-Pacific Island Cooperation this policy initiative aimed to showcase India’s willingness to work closely with Pacific island nations to advance developmental priorities to strengthen India’s partnership in the region. This initiative proposed and worked on the various measures such as the establishment of “tread office” to extending visas.

Fast Track Diplomacy-

On the completion of the first 100 days of Modi government, MEA published a booklet called ‘Fast Track Diplomacy’ showcasing the achievements made in Foreign policy arena. On this initiative, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said, “this diplomacy has three faces- proactive, strong and sensitive. Since, taking the charge, MEA Sushma Swaraj held round table meetings with all Indian heads of mission to SAARC region, ASEAN region and middle east as a follow-up measure to carry forward the leads gained by high profile visits and exchanges.

Para diplomacy-

This is the most unique and creative policy initiative taken by the Modi government. This policy enables each state and city to encouraged to create special foreign relation with countries or federal states of other countries or even cities. There are many agreements signed under this initiative; some are in process. Under this, Varanasi signed a partnership agreement with Kyoto, Japan.

Necklace of Diamond policy-

India’s Necklace of Diamond Policy is one of the most significant efforts to create an ‘unofficial deterrence’ to fight back China’s attempt to encircle India through maintaining and developing its strategic bases in countries around India. This policy is counter-strategy for China’s ‘Strings of Pearls’. PM Narendra Modi’ foreign visits and diplomatic wins lead pattern that reflects India’s evolving strategy in response in China. India created strategic bases in Seychelles in 2016, Chabahar in 2016, Changi (Singapore) in 2018, Sabang (Indonesia) in 2018 and Dumq (Oman) in 2018. Under this policy, India created India’s strategic cooperation with Mongolia, Japan, Vietnam, and Central Asia. India’s recent policy shift from Non-Alignment to multi-Alignment also reflects this policy. India is not only developing the existing strategic bases but also building newer bases. India’s recent foreign policy pushes that India befriended with almost all the countries in China’s periphery, and in the way, this is giving India the strategic access. This pattern can be seen in the ‘Necklace of Diamonds’ that garland China.

One of the major achievement of the Modi government in the field of foreign policy is the Oversea Indian crisis. If its a case of abducted nuns who came safely to India or Indian workers trapped in Yemen during the civil war, India strongly pulled power strings and without casualties, brought Indian back to the homeland. This cases significantly presented Indian’s strategic vision and victories on foreign lands.

So, overall with an analytical eye, we can say that Modi doctrine so far achieved the definite autonomy and supremacy in international politics.

India who lost her own flavor of foreign policy in the last two decades, rejuvenated by Modi and his foreign policy squad. India today with her full might and traditional ideologies become a leader for aspiring nations.

With no doubt, Modi doctrine laid the foundation of bright tomorrow for India’s influence and autonomy with her own unique ideologies in International blues.