The Indian Diplomatic Outreach 2020
Indian Foreign Policy in 2020 marked an exciting beginning building upon the achievements of 2019. The Covid-19 Pandemic derailed all normal practices but it proved to be a temporary roadblock before India switched to a new mode of digital diplomacy.
The Indian Foreign Policy has been pretty neutral so far in my assessment — where India refrains to get into the limelight to avoid confrontations with friendly nations and pleasing the superpowers. 2020 marked an end to this, where India finally assumed its very righteous position of taking the front stage to take actions and express its opinions. Being the world’s largest democracy, it’s about time that India has reasserted itself in a robust manner in 2020. Much of the credit for this goes to the Chinese belligerence at the Indian borders that instigated a negative sentiment among the Indian public towards China pushing the government to boycott Chinese goods and making Make in India — a success. Here I wish to share my opinion on the Indian Foreign Policy journey in 2020 and its major contours.
Indo-US relations
Lets begin the story with USA. In 2020, the month of February became special for the government at the center with the visit of American President, marking the culmination of the strategic bonhomie and unanimity of world view of both countries and its leaders. His visit consolidated the Indo-US partnership, particularly the strategic content of it, continuing the Indo-US ties to prosper. In a defining visual, Donald Trump and PM Modi addressed people together in a huge stadium in Ahmedabad. Given the fact that Donald Trump had never addressed such a huge crowd (more than 125,000 people), the event named ‘Namaste Trump’ marked a warmth rarely seen between two world leaders, the picture sent out clear message that in the current world order, India and the US have chosen to sail together. These public engagements are basically done to leave an impression in the minds of the people that the two countries and their leadership are together. Even before the US elections this year, India made it clear that Indo-US relations are beyond parties.
Indo-Russia relations
Meanwhile India did not forget Russia! Both countries have enjoyed the friendship and a depth of relationship that has stood the test of time. And in year 2020 it continued like that. India was getting the much needed S-400 system from Russia — this deal faced US threat of sanctions, but India refused to be swayed, later forcing US to send a written assurance to make an exception for India under CAATSA. In retrospect India has done wonderfully in balancing its ties with the two Polar powers (Russia and USA).
Indo-UK relations
Towards the end of 2020 India invited the British PM Johnson as a chief guest on 26th Jan. parade in 2021, who in turn invited PM Modi for the G-7 meeting. India and Britain have been coming close to work in the post-Covid and post-Brexit period. Britain has been a supporter of India’s Indo-Pacific policy, other than having strong diaspora connections and a long history with India. In the post Brexit world, Britain would need strong economic, investment and trade relations with India and therefore the relations will only improve.
Indo-China relations
Among the P5 nations, India’s relations with China has hit the lowest in recent times. Everyone believes that Chinese behavior was not according to the decorum of a friendly neighborhood and also unlike a big power. The trouble was triggered by China when its troops encroached the line of actual control. While the government kept on preparing with defense acquisitions, the army was always prepared for any eventuality and capture tactical posts. Meanwhile India maintained talks to tackle the aggressive Chinese behavior diplomatically. With India taking an offensive stand led to other nations to join the force, with Australia standing shoulder to shoulder. I see this as a very crucial time when more nations began standing up against China either directly or diplomatically which led an outspoken China to make terrible statements such as calling Australia ‘a chewing gum stuck in China’s shoes’. This set the environment for the world to see how irresponsible and disrespectful can China get, and hence cannot be relied on. India also started cracking on China in economics fair — by beginning to ban chinese apps. Indian public opinion also hardened against Chinese goods.
PM Modi announced the concept of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) and convinced the world that a self-reliant India stands for a platform that would facilitate manufacturing and investing in India. This solved two purposes — it isolated China on unlawful trade practices. At the same time it created confidence in the world that India can take on China on global issues.
FM Jaishankar responded strongly on India’s position to China that ‘it will not be business as usual’. Ironically Chinese provocation came at a time when India was trying to co-operate with China in Covid-19 period.
Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia relations
Maldives emerged as a major ally in India’s maritime neighborhood. At the same time, India-Bangladesh ties came to an all time high. Not surprisingly only Pakistan remained isolated from India, whereas normal relations prevailed in rest of the Indian subcontinent neighborhood.
India’s relations with the Central-Asian countries also improved. As a matter of fact, these nations wanted India to be present for the balance of power against an expansionist China, development partnerships and peace.
While the world foreign policy was overshadowed by the Covid pandemic, India evolved as a pharma hub showing its pre-eminence in the medical field. It created a confidence in the world that persuaded many global manufacturers to enter into collaborations with Indian companies to produce the vaccines. This was termed as India’s Pharma Diplomacy.
So as far as the Indian Foreign Policy in 2020 is concerned, it will be remembered for winning over the crisis created by Covid-19 pandemic, exchanging more and more with the world, being friendly to the world and enemy to none — turning crisis into opportunity.
