- From the Global South to major powers like the US, Russia, and even China, there’s recognition of Modi’s leadership and ability to navigate complex national and international challenges.
- It seems the world anticipates Modi’s continued leadership, recognizing him as a capable leader uniquely suited to address India’s and the world’s diverse complexities.
- The Global South views Modi as their leader in the international forum, the Russian Federation considers him a useful friend who has kept Russian interests intact, and the United States continues to increase its cooperation.
As the BJP aims for a stronger mandate, it’s noteworthy that the buzz surrounding the elections in the world’s largest democracy is attracting attention from observers outside India. In politics, it’s crucial to maintain a ready report card and highlight achievements, while also managing external observers who wish to scrutinize and potentially influence the elections. The attention resembles a war of great magnitude, with high stakes for both nations and organizations.
Hence, whether acting on the advice of political strategists or through an internal understanding of the prevailing environment and government objectives, the signals or statements made by nations worldwide serve as significant points of interest in any election. I wish to emphasize that it’s not only the voters within India who hold the Prime Minister in high regard but also those outside, including heads of state and media outlets, who share similar sentiments. Some tabloids in the US, for instance, have claimed that the Biden administration overlooks alleged atrocities in India while the PM continues to enjoy success. Even The Guardian, despite editorial bias, acknowledges the PM’s popularity and predicts his return for a third term. Readers can discern whether these articles are written with good intentions, but the consensus is clear: the Indian PM’s popularity cannot be underestimated by opinionated pieces, unlike the situation before 2014 when he faced frequent personal attacks as Gujarat Chief Minister.
Perhaps one of the best examples where a foreign leader has not only accepted the eventual win but has also planned to visit India during Modi’s third term is Russian President Vladimir Putin. His meeting with foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar in Moscow went well and he expressed his wish to travel to India later this year and invited PM Modi to Moscow. This is an example of a foreign head of state expecting the present PM to win since there will be no foreign visits before June. It also hints at a visit by the Russian President to India during PM Modi’s third term. Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed a similar view, he seems keen to have the Indian PM visit the war-torn nation and has openly called him a peace-maker in their conflict with Russia. Interestingly the rivals showing similar confidence only shows that even they are sure of Narendra Modi’s return as PM for the third term.
Another instance is when PM Modi wished for the victory of the Russian President in the presidential elections earlier. He wished him that he looked forward to building a stronger relationship between both nations during the 3rd term. Earlier, a news report claimed that it was the Indian PM who made sure that the Russian President wouldn’t use a nuclear bomb in the conflict with Ukraine. Such confidence shown by Russia and Ukraine will be welcomed by those handling the elections for the PM in a manner that even his adversaries admit to his return in 2024.
The next instance is the assertion made by the Prime Minister during the QUAD summit in Japan in May 2023. He said India will happily host the QUAD summit in 2024. The Prime Minister said this in the presence of the President of the US, Joe Biden, the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida. One can argue that such a statement went unanswered by his contemporaries simply out of diplomatic courtesy. But their implicit approval suggests a sense of foreign acceptability and confidence in Modi’s leadership.
The Indian PM repeatedly rules the popularity charts as a global leader and in some ways, has stamped his popularity over these years, despite the Western media’s negative and biased converge of Indian affairs. Further, numerous surveys have showcased the government’s efforts to eliminate extreme poverty and the success of many other schemes run by the government. These get highlighted in the foreign press and are picked up by the BJP’s strategic planners to play an important role in his rising stature as a capable administrator and an able statesman. PM Modi’s popularity as a global leader remains unchallenged, bolstered by successful governance and robust diplomacy.
The foreign delegates were in awe of how India hosted the G20 as well as the SCO in the same year. It was at the G20 meeting, chaired by India, that an important resolution termed the “New Delhi Resolution” was unanimously passed. Getting a consensus during times of war and instability around the world is another aspect that stimulated the interest of most nations around the world.
While India maintains good relations with most nations of the world, it still offers constructive criticism on the issues related to the reformation of the United Nations. India has been able to make strong arguments while defending its policies which showcase our growing stature in the comity of nations. The example of the CAA being finally implemented is an important promise that the Modi government made. When some nations showed an uncanny interest in CAA, unlike in the past, India countered them resolutely nipping their objections in the bud as a meek response could have risked further escalation.
As India goes to the polls, the world has seemingly prepared itself to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third term. The Global South continues to view him as their leader in the international forum, the Russian Federation considers him a useful friend who has kept Russian interests intact, and the United States continues to increase its cooperation while acknowledging the Modi government’s efforts to improve mutual ties. Even a belligerent China, which caused the delicate situation at the LAC, has indicated its willingness to deal with India under Modi’s continued leadership.
The world appears poised to welcome PM Modi for a third term. From the Global South to major powers like the US, Russia, and even China, there’s recognition of Modi’s leadership and ability to navigate complex national and international challenges. It seems the world anticipates Modi’s continued leadership, recognizing him as a capable leader uniquely suited to address India’s and the world’s diverse complexities.
(Anhad Jakhmola is a postgraduate scholar in international relations. He has his undergraduate degree in history and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Defence and Strategic Studies. He is a columnist for many portals and is a keen public speaker in debates and discussions. Views expressed are author’s own)
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