· Self reliance in defence sector
· Neighbours first policy
· Preference for South East Asian Nations with Act East Policy
· Strengthened relations with USA
· Best friend for Putin
· “This is not a war of era” is the indication of Modi to Putin.
· Became best friend to Donald Trump
· Excellent talent in balancing relations with super powers
· Defence sector is now reached to the stage of exports
· Charismatic leader who attract leaders of world
HYDERABAD,NETIDHATHRI:
Foreign policy played a small role in Modi’s election campaign and did not feature prominently in the BJP’s election manifesto. He mainly concentrated on National and regional issued in his campaign. Modi’s foreign policy, similarly to that of the preceding Congress government, focused on improving economic ties, security and regional relations. Really speaking the roots of Narendra Modi foreign policy lies in the foreign policy introduced by then Congress Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao who is the son of Telangana soil. He introduced new outlook in foreign policy naming it as ‘Look East Policy’, which followed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee who came to power after him. The same policy continued by Manmohan Singh Government succeeded Vajpayee. That policy is being now followed by Naredra Modi after coming to power in 2014 by renaming it as ‘Act East Policy’. Modi under his new slogans ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ has been inviting foreign direct investments into various sectors including defense and Railways. In this regard he is giving utmost priority to South-East-Asian Nations and East Asian Nations. He knows well the business with the countries of these regions will boost the economy of India. This was first recognized by P.V. Narasimha Rao who sown seeds for the economic development of the country. The government also tried to improve relations with Islamic nations in the Middle East, such as Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as with Israel.
Relations with USA
India’s relationship with the United States improved after Narendra Modi became PM. During the run-up to the general election, there was wide-ranging skepticism about future of the strategic bilateral relationship under Modi’s premiership; in 2005, while Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi was denied a US visa during the presidency of George W. Bush in the back drop of Godra violence. The intentional miss information regarding this incident was the main cause for this denial. Sensing Modi’s victory well before the election, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell contacted Modi as part of greater rapprochement from the West. Following Modi’s 2014 appointment as India’s PM, President Obama congratulated him over the telephone and invited Modi to visit the US. The Modi government enjoyed a positive relationship with the US during the presidencies of Barack Obama and his successor Donald Trump.
During the first few months after his appointment as PM, Modi visited a number of countries in support of his policy, and attended the BRICS, ASEAN and G20 summits. One of Modi’s first visits as PM was to Nepal, during which he promised one billion US dollars in aid. Modi also made several visits to the US; this was described as an unexpected development because of the US’s earlier denial of a US travel visa to Modi over his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The visits were expected to strengthen diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.
Land agreement with Bangladesh
In 2015, the Indian parliament ratified a land-exchange deal with Bangladesh in the India–Bangladesh enclaves, which the government of Manmohan Singh had initiated. Modi’s administration brought renewed attention to India’s “Look East Policy”, which was instituted in 1991. The government signed agreements to improve land connectivity with Myanmar through the Indian state of Manipur; this represented a break with India’s historic engagement with Myanmar, which prioritised border security over trade. China–India relations rapidly deteriorated following the 2020 China–India skirmishes. Modi pledged aid of $900 million to Afghanistan, which he visited twice and was honoured with Afghanistan’s highest civilian honour in 2016. In September 2022, Modi appeared to have developed a strong personal relationship with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
India as president of G20 nations
India hosted the 2023 G20 New Delhi summit, during which the African Union joined the G20 as a permanent member. In an interview on 26 August 2023, Prime Minister Modi expressed optimism about the G20 countries’ evolving agenda under India’s presidency, shifting toward a human-centric development approach that aligns with the concerns of the Global South, including addressing climate change, debt restructuring through the G20’s Common Framework for Debt, and a strategy for regulation of global crypto currencies.
Raise in military spending
India’s nominal military spending steadily increased under Modi. Under Modi, India launched military modernisation initiative aimed at strengthening defence preparedness and streamlining defence acquisition.[405] Modi launched new policies under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” campaign, promoting indigenous defence manufacturing with policies to procure key weapon systems domestically. The government has implemented several of the recommendations from the Shekatkar Committee to streamline defence procurement and rationalise spending. Efforts have been made to establish Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) to enhance jointness among the services.
Skirmishes with China
In May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive skirmishes along the Sino-Indian border, including near the disputed Pangong Lake, Ladakh, and the Tibet Autonomous Region and near the border between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region. Additional clashes took place in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In 2020, skirmishes between the nations led to many border clashes, responses and reactions from both sides. A series of talks between India and China were held, using military and diplomatic means for peace. The first border clash reported in 2021 was on 20 January; this was referred to as a minor border clash in Sikkim.
Relations with Russia
In December 2021, Modi signed an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend military technical cooperation. The Modi government bought the S-400 missile system, an anti-missile striking system, strengthening the relationship between the two nations. India refused to condemn the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and stayed neutral. The Indian government’s Operation Ganga initiative sought to return Indians stranded in Ukraine during the war. More than 19,000 Indian nationals were evacuated, including some from neighbouring countries.
Charismatic leader
Modi is a vegetarian and teetotaller, who has a frugal lifestyle, and is a workaholic and has been described as an introvert. On 31 August 2012, he posted on Google Hangouts, becoming the first Indian politician to interact with citizens on a live chat. Modi has been called a fashion icon for his signature crisply ironed, half-sleeved kurta, and for a suit with his name repeatedly embroidered in the pinstripes, which he wore during a state visit by US President Barack Obama, which drew public and media attention, and criticism. Scholars and biographers have described Modi’s personality as energetic, eccentric and charismatic. Modi created image among Indian politicians as a leader who has capable enough to take difficult decisions in critical conditions.
Biopic on Modi
Modi Kaka Ka Gaon, a 2017 Indian Hindi-language drama film by Tushar Amrish Goel, is the first biopic about Modi. PM Narendra Modi, a 2019 Hindi-language biographical drama film by Omung Kumar which covers Modi’s rise to the premiership. 7 RCR (7, Race Course Road), a 2014 Indian docudrama political television series which charts the political careers of prominent Indian politicians, covered Modi’s rise to the PM’s office in the episodes “Story of Narendra Modi from 1950 to 2001”. Modi appeared in an episode of Discovery Channel’s show Man vs. Wild with the host Bear Grylls in July 2019, becoming the second world leader after Barack Obama to appear in the reality show. Modi hosts Mann Ki Baat, a monthly radio programme on All India Radio, and has conducted the competition Pariksha Pe Charcha, and discussions for students and the issues they face in examinations.
Modi as writer
In 2008, Modi published a Gujarati book titled Jyotipunj, which contains profiles of RSS leaders. After becoming the Prime Minister he also authored a book called Exam Warriors, a guide for children to commendably face exams.
