changing diplomacy

 

INDIA’s diplomacy is evolving into an altogether different ball-game. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi is breaking newer grounds, making newer friends, tackling issues with newer approaches. As part of this ongoing initiative, Mr. Modi’s India enters strategic partnership with Ethiopia and looks to enhancing bilateral trade with Jordan to five billion dollars. Each time Mr. Narendra Modi travels to abroad on a tour of different nations, we get to know of the new steps India has taken. Every Prime Minister -- since 1947 -- tried his or her best to expand the Indian interests, all right, in different countries. Yet, those early efforts were only limited in import and generally stayed within standard, traditional parameters. With the rise of Mr. Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, India’s diplomacy changed for the better, changed to move ever forward, changed to find newer frontiers to touch and expand. In other words, led by the Prime Minister, Indian diplomacy is readying itself to play an ever-expanding global role -- by including almost every country possible in its embrace.

 

Obviously, that has led bigger numbers of countries to accept India as a friend of all seasons -- whose appeal goes beyond the obvious, beyond the short term. Thus, in a way, Mr. Narendra Modi is giving diplomacy the fullness of its stated and unstated meanings. Approaching the game with a settled mind, Mr. Modi looks ‘cool’ as he tackles different challenges in a balanced frame of mind -- unmindful of the temporary changes in the moods of different heads of world governments. So, he takes a sudden rise in trade tariffs or a sudden twist in a country’s approach in the stride. For, he knows, winning small arguments, mastering the short term gains is never the aim of diplomacy. This art works always for the long term, as Mr. Narendra Modi and his close advisors on international affairs know.

 

True, Ethiopia has its strategic importance on the global map. But this is not a new discovery. Ethiopia has always been there -- with its advantages and disadvantages. Yet, no Prime Minister of India felt that India’s ties with that country needed to be raised to strategic levels. Obviously, Mr Narendra Modi views the world differently, wants to make friends with a different mindset. He offers sops, he changes his stride, he softens his stand, he expects little in return from any country -- so much so that non-reciprocal assistance to countries becomes an authentic aspect of India’s foreign policy. The world had not known this India -- until 10-11 years ago. No doubt, many Prime Ministers tried innovations in diplomacy. Yet, what Mr Narendra Modi does is clearly different from what his predecessors did. So, his supporters say, ‘Boss, this is Modi’s India. It neither blinks, nor stares -- but does not avoid eyes. It does not confront, but it does not retrace from a front.’ So, those who follow India’s diplomatic trajectory insist that New Delhi is rewriting rules of diplomatic engagement, redefining its own priorities, creating new alignments -- without becoming a martyr. In other words, India does not sacrifice its interests ever vis-a-vis anybody. But if the time calls for it, India is willing to keep certain points on its list on the back-burner for a while. For, it knows, in diplomacy, there is nothing called ‘forever’ -- there is only ‘herebefore’ and ‘hereafter’.

 

As India has begun practising the path of constant innovation and evolution of its diplomatic approach and narrative, the world watches sometimes with interest, and sometimes in a state of confusion. For, with the newer rules in operation, India’s diplomacy is evolving constantly -- making it difficult for many countries (including the United States of America) to decipher what is in store for them from India. But then, there also are some countries whose leaders are enjoying a different kind of hospitality and courtesy from India. They appear to appreciate the nature of their changed association with a global player like India desirable. After all, they are experiencing a new India -- in diplomacy.