India’s steady foreign policy is widely misunderstood.
That is an irony: while public debate often mistakes its intent, India’s external strategy has been one of the few constants since independence.
Rooted in Nehruvian non-alignment, Indian diplomacy has remained remarkably consistent across different governments.
What Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done is to give that tradition new momentum, reframing a value-based idea of equidistance into an active, pragmatic engagement with the world.
Modi’s diplomacy has been notable for its simultaneity. He has courted Washington and Moscow, Tehran and Riyadh, Tel Aviv and Ramallah - often engaging leaders from opposing camps in ways few predecessors attempted.
He has strengthened ties with the Global North while deepening relationships across the Global South.
Uniquely, he is the first Indian prime minister born after independence, free of colonial baggage, who has undertaken this global outreach with both conviction and cultural confidence.
The diaspora has played a central role in this strategy. By recasting the “brain drain” as a “brain deposit,” Modi has asked the Indian diaspora to act as ambassadors for the country of their ethnic origin, to invest here, and to advocate for India.
At the same time, he has showcased Indian craftsmanship through cultural diplomacy by asking his hosts for repatriation of stolen ancient India's magnificent temple idols, while gifting them the newly made artefacts from across India.
That combination of steadiness and activism has paid diplomatic dividends.
Even as governments across the world change, meetings with Modi have become a staple on leaders’ itineraries. Modi has managed to sign more trade agreements with multiple nations than any leader before him, earning exports and suppliers alike to propel India into a "Goldilocks economy."
India’s elevated global profile has coincided with strong economic performance: despite the pandemic, India’s GDP rose from 11th to 4th in the world and is poised to climb higher, reflecting one of the better macroeconomic showings among large economies during this period.
The 2023–25 G20 process hosted by India was a case in point. New Delhi managed to secure a joint communiqué that included, crucially, the United States, Russia and China—an outcome that many had thought improbable. India also brought the African Union into the fold, underscoring its role as a convenor in an increasingly fragmented world.
India’s growing influence extends beyond summits. Its expanding military capabilities, financial heft and technological advances have begun to shift calculations in global commodity markets and international forums. India is now a vocal participant in QUAD, I2U2, SCO, BRICS and G20, and it increasingly receives invitations to G7 discussions.
Far from being the outlier on the UN Security Council, India’s absence from permanent membership is becoming a shortcoming of the institution more than a stain on India.
Under his watch, India has pursued bilateral agreements that include local-currency trade settlements and other measures that nudge the global order toward greater multipolarity, an evolution distinct from the isolationist tendencies of other powerful actors.
What, then, is India’s unique proposition? Simply put: India claims no enemies. It works with any partner that advances the security and welfare of its people. India does not seek domination; it seeks responsibility. In crises, it has often been a first responder—most visibly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when India sent vaccines and medical assistance to poorer nations even as wealthier countries hoarded supplies.
This diplomatic assertiveness has won Modi honours from more countries than most contemporary leaders, reflecting broad international recognition rather than partisan or personal popularity.
Yet India is not naïve. An ancient civilisation tempered by history, it recognizes threats and responds firmly when required, without cultivating perpetual enmity.
The tactical pushback against China at the Galwan Valley, calibrated actions against hostile proxies, and the pragmatic recalibration of ties with neighbours that stray from cooperative behaviour exemplify this balance.
Similarly, India has been willing to withdraw and later restore relations when adversaries change course, as seen in its dealings with the Maldives and in the phased management of ties with Turkey. The announcement of restored military de-escalation with China in early 2021 is another example of restraint coupled with resolve.
In short, India keeps the door open. Some partners walk away in moments of heat; most return when geopolitical realities reassert themselves.
That elasticity, steadfast principles applied with tactical flexibility is India’s strategic advantage.
So relax and enjoy the ride: you are riding a wise elephant that marches on.
Bolo Bharat Mata Ki .... Jai Okay Please 🙏 🇮🇳
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