Modi's R-Day invitation to Obama will keep even India's traditional allies guessing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to US President Barack Obama to join the Republic Day celebrations in India next year as the chief guest has changed India's foreign policy dynamics. [US Obama's India visit next year great chance for bolstering ties, say experts]
The irony lies in the fact that is that it has roughly coincided with the 125th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first prime minister and one of the prime brains behind the Non-Aligned Movement, the foundation stone of India's foreign policy.
Has India rendered Nehruvian legacy in foreign policy obsolete?
By inviting an American president to the R-Day celebrations, has India permanently overhauled its foreign policy orientation and rendered the Nehruvian legacy obsolete?
The answer is mostly affirmative. Narendra Modi has shown a remarkable thinking in rolling out the red carpet for the American President for an event which summarises India's nationhood within a few hours and is an expression of the country's national will. To make the head of state of the world's only superpower a part of such an occasion sends a clear message, both to the diplomatic and economic circles.
One wonders why the Congress couldn't think of inviting a US President on the Republic Day celebrations all these years? Did the Nehruvian legacy burden it to act? PM Modi certainly has no such problems.
India's invitation to Obama, twice during his tenure, will put New Delhi's foes and friends in a spot equally.
Beijing will find Modi a tough opponent
Take for example, China. Beijing has already been kept busy by Modi's engagement with countries like Japan, Australia, Myanmar and others in the Asia Pacific and now with Modi inviting Obama at a national celebration, the Chinese will find that Modi is not a man who can be intimidated by diplomatic cautions.
Beijing
is
already
feeling
perturbed
by
the
USA's
focus
on
the
Asia-Pacific
region
and
the
growing
closeness
between
Modi
and
Obama
will
undoubtedly
raise
more
eyebrows
within
its
diplomatic
ranks.
Cornered
Russia
will
be
guessing:
What's
Next?
The
development
will
also
keep
the
Russians
interested.
Moscow
has
been
the
closest
ally
of
India
in
international
politics
since
the
era
of
NAM
but
the
Modi-Obama
bonhomie
will
certainly
make
feelings
uneasy
in
the
Kermlin.
Russia
is
currently
feeling
a
lot
of
heat
in
the
international
community
because
of
the
Ukraine
crisis
and
now
with
Obama's
visit
to
India
set
to
get
all
the
focus,
Putin
could
get
a
serious
inferiority
complex
ahead
of
his
visit
to
India.
For
Moscow,
it
could
be
all
over
as
far
as
the
‘seniority'
in
its
partnership
with
India
is
concerned.
Japan
will
also
be
wondering
on
how
to
help
India
more
Japan,
another
close
ally
of
India,
will
also
keep
a
close
watch
on
Obama's
visit
to
India
in
January.
Tokyo
is
happy
that
the
Indians
have
begun
to
confront
the
Chinese
more
than
before
but
it
will
also
be
cautious
about
India's
rankings
in
the
eyes
of
the
US
and
might
grant
New
Delhi
more
weight.
Pakistan:
The
also-ran
Speaking about Pakistan, it has already felt uneasy and is busy convincing Obama to pay a visit to Islamabad too. Battered by problems both at home and abroad, Islamabad will find to its shock that it has fallen far behind New Delhi as far as the international prestige is concerned. Modi's initiatives might take the contest beyond its reach.
Other countries, including those in the Arab world and Europe will also follow how Obama's visit to India on January unfolds. But as far as India is concerned, its foreign policy has definitely shown an edge of maturity.