by
Hans Izaak Kriek*
He took oath as the Prime Minister of India, becoming the first ever PM to be born after India attained Independence. He looks dynamic and determined. PM Modi arrives as a ray of hope in the lives of his people. Ever since he assumed office in May 2014, he has embarked on a journey of all-round and inclusive development where every Indian can realise their hopes and inspirations. He remains deeply inspired by the principle of ‘Antyodaya’, of serving the last person in the queue. Through innovate ideas and initiatives, the Government has ensured that the wheels of progress move at rapid pace and the fruits of development reach every citizen. Governance has become open, easier and transparent.
Narendra Modi looks a ‘People’s Leader’, dedicated in solving India’s problems and improving their well-being. Nothing is more satisfying for him than being amongst the people, sharing their joys and alleviating their sorrows. His powerful ‘personal connect’ with the people on the ground is complemented by a strong online presence. He is known as India’s most techno-savvy leader, using the web to reach people and bring about change in their lives. He is very active on social media platforms as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram,
Foreign policy
Modi is active in international way, so he joined the Nuclear Security Summit in April 2016 where he put forward a strong message on the importance of Nuclear Security at the world stage. Also he joined the COP21 Summit in Paris , where he, along with several other world leaders deliberated on climate change. Many of them, Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott, President Xi Jinping of People’s Republic of China, President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany have visited India and these visits have achieved breakthroughs in improving cooperation between India and these countries.
President Obama visited India at Modi’s invitation in 2015 to attend Indian Republic Day, a first in the history of India-USA relations and in June last year, Modi delivered a brilliant speech to the US congress, in which he has detailed his doctrine (https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y47AiJDFcQY) Modi: “We trade with the US more than we trade with any other nation”. This was during the US presidential election campaign and, by then, Modi was anticipating Clinton’s victory, against his own wishes and his country’s interests. However, with time, disappointed with Obama’s legacy as far as India is concerned, Modi felt extremely pleased with Trump’s victory. The stake is big. Pakistan is traditional an enemy and Trump wants to move to a new alliance US-Russia-India versus China. “Pakistan must walk away from terrorism for talks with India”, said PM Modi recently.
The so-called ‘Modi Doctrine’, in other words India’s foreign policy under PM Modi’s leadership, is the translation of several policy initiatives in foreign matters, in which Modi has engaged India’s government towards foreign powers since he took office in 2014. Narendra Modi has his own style but more importantly, he is ambitious and determined, dreaming of raising up the nuclear India to a position of superpower among the world’s greatest superpowers. Nuclear India with 1,5 billion citizens, fear China’s aggressive power and ambition. On track, Modi is also confident that during Trump’s mandate, India will be able to balance the strength of US-China’s relationship. In this matter, he is aligned with Trump.
India and Europe, trade
India maintains an ongoing dialogue with the European Union which is separates from the bilateral relations with soe EU member States. In Asia the positive public perception of Europe is highest in India. This country, the world’s most populous democracy , has strategic partnerships with France, UK and Germany. PM Modi intends to diversify India’s purchase of high tech fighting military equipment like warplanes and warships and with respect, considers Europe (France, UK, Germany, Sweden and Italy) as much as he consider Russia and the US.
The foremost areas of programmed India-EU28 cooperation are in the domains of education, cultural exchanges, joint-research in science and technologies, and law enforcement. The European Union (EU28) is India’s second largest trading partner, accounting for around 20% of Indian trade (Gulf Cooperation Council), with almost $160 billion in total trade.
The European Union - still reeling from the combined effects of the global economic slowdown, European sovereign debt crisis, a re-assertive Russia, European immigration crisis and several high-profile corporate scandals - appears rudderless in trying to find solutions to reverse the surge of Euro scepticism, anti-establishment and anti-globalisation movements.
Uncertainties in Brussels over the future state of the European Union are directly reflected in EU-India relations. Prime Minister Modi met the leaders of Europe, President Tusk and Juncker at the EU-India Summit in Brussels, 2016. Europe is popular with Indians tourists. Efforts by Indian multinational companies, operating in industrial engineering and ICT domains, to cover European markets via quality-price competition and by providing innovative goods and services substitutes has seen mixed results due to structural shortcomings and regulatory difficulties.
*Hans Izaak Kriek is US correspondent and political commentator for European Business Review and editor-in-chief of Kriek Media
By: N. Peter Kramer
