SOURCE: DINESH BEHARA / FOR MY TAKE / IDRW.ORG
In an ever-changing landscape of global politics, the shifting strategies and alliances of nations often leave observers bewildered about future outcomes. Look at the example of the Philippines’ contrasting foreign policy approaches under different administrations of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Benigno Aquino III to Rodrigo Duterte to Ferdinand Marcos Jr [1] or the example of fluctuating stances on international agreements like the JCPOA by Obama and Trump [2] , these examples highlight the volatility inherent in geopolitics.
In this article, let us shed light on some of the global leaders, who envisioned greater ties with India and were steadfast in their actions.
Shinzo Abe
Abe played a significant role in elevating Japan-India relations, propelling bilateral ties to unprecedented levels. He engaged with both the current Modi govt. and previous Singh govt. for long-term stronger relations. Abe in his address to the Indian Parliament, said that “a Confluence of the Two Seas” and the “Pacific and Indian Oceans [were] a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and prosperity” quoted from the book of a Mughal prince, Dara Shikoh. which demonstrates his conceptualization of the Indo-Pacific region as
a strategically significant domain [3] . Japan is one of the four countries with which it has a 2+2 ministerial dialogue of foreign and defense ministers, and other countries are the United States, Australia, and Russia. In September 2020, Japan signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with India, which is a military logistics agreement [4] .
He was the architect of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD). He tried to bring India closer to the larger alliance of the USA, Australia, and Japan. His efforts in elevating India-Japan ties, made the Indian government award him the second highest civilian honor of ‘Padma Vibhushan’ in 2021 [5] . “In the passing away of Mr. Abe, Japan and the world have lost a great visionary. And, I have lost a dear friend. A tribute to my friend Abe San…” PM Modi wrote on Twitter (now X) reacting to the shock assassination of Abe. [6]
Tony Abbot
During his tenure as Prime Minister of Australia, he visited India in 2014 and signed a deal to allow Australian companies to sell uranium to India for energy generation [7] , he also favored stronger trade ties. His support for greater India-Australia relations accelerated after ties with China soured due to Australian restrictions on Huawei and calling for an investigation of COVID-19 origins and in turn China boycotting Australian goods. In 2021, Abbot was appointed as PM’s special trade envoy to India under Scott Morrison to negotiate a free trade deal with India. In an oped to a newspaper, Abbott said the “answer to almost every question about China is India, With the world’s other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it’s in everyone’s interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible.” [8] He explicitly voices his support for a greater leadership role for India on the global stage and says “India has emerged as a democratic superpower, more than capable of providing leadership that the world often needs and that America cannot always give.” [9]
David Cameron
He was the prime minister of Britain from 2010 to 2016. Before becoming Prime Minister, in his election manifesto, his party had highlighted a point to establish a special relationship with India and supported India for the permanent seat in UNSC [10] . In 2010 he visited India with the largest delegation of cabinet ministers, industrialists, chancellors, etc. During his premiership, he visited India 3 times. He mainly pitched for greater trade and investments, and Indian students choosing the UK for higher studies. In 2015 while addressing an estimated audience of 60,000 British Indians at Wembley Stadium during the visit of Indian PM Modi’s visit to the UK, Cameroon predicted that soon there would be a PM of Indian roots at 10 Downing Street, which came true in the form of current PM Rishi Sunak. In the UK’s political history, he would be remembered for his EU referendum. Even during his campaign for the UK to remain in the EU, he emphasized increasing trade with India. He is one of the pro-Indian British PMs, who continue to support India’s candidature to UNSC and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and advocates India’s rise on the global stage even being out of PM office. In 2017 Cameron said ” I am absolutely passionate about the relationship between Britain and India, it is a relationship based on common interests, a relationship based on the extraordinary strengths of the British Indian Diaspora and Britons working in India. I am proud of the amount I have done to help build this relationship that is going to be so important for the future of both of our countries,” while receiving a special recognition award for promoting India- UK ties. [11]
George W Bush
He was the 43rd United States President from 2001 to 2009. The order of the globe was unipolar with American hegemony at its peak. During his presidency, the world saw the worst terrorist attacks on humanity, which subsequently led him to launch a war on terror and a controversial war on Iraq. He walked a tightrope and delicately balanced the hyphenated affairs of India and Pakistan. However, one of his successful foreign policy affairs was changing the dynamics of relations with India. India was under global sanctions following the Pokhran nuclear tests. It was Bush Jr. who considered India to be a responsible power and broke the barriers to enhance cooperation with India. He even tried to amend some of the domestic U.S. laws to favor this deal with India [12] . His pursuit of an Indo-US civil nuclear deal was a breakthrough in elevating ties. Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh vividly said during his last U.S. trip that “the people of India deeply love you”. [13] Bush Jr. while leaving the Oval Office cautioned that “India is a friend. Pakistan is not” through his secret memos to his successor Obama. [14]
Conclusion
India’s foreign policy posture remains reliable and progressive, guided by a vision of mutually beneficial relationships with nations across the globe. As the world struggles with geopolitical uncertainties, India stands as a dependable partner, contributing to peace, stability, and progress on the global stage. Regardless of the ruling government, India maintains a consistent trajectory, showcasing resilience and pragmatism in its international relations. As India continues to navigate the intricacies of international relations, the unwavering support and recognition from these global leaders served as a testament to its growing influence and relevance in shaping the geopolitical landscape.
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