Dr. Arvind Kumar*
In a world increasingly impacted by geostrategic shifts, ideological rivalry and fractured power has the pragmatic foreign policy of PM Modi enabled India to emerge as a significant global player and translate into diplomatic win as well?
Seeing the tone and tenor of PM Modi’s recent visit to three European countries in a flurry of hectic activity and the resultant positive outcomes, one is reminded of the Latin phrase Veni vidi vici (meaning I came, I saw and I conquered). This visit has proved instrumental in doing away with the cobwebs of apprehensions that had been harboured by the European leaders on India’s stand on Ukraine in recent weeks. The partnership between India and the European Union (EU) got intensified beyond the differing approaches to the Ukraine crisis. Undoubtedly, the Russian armed incursions into Ukraine have caused tectonic shifts in global geopolitics; nevertheless, the political will, sagacity, far-sightedness and diplomatic adroitness displayed by the leaders in New Delhi and Brussels have not let the minor differences over one issue disturb the momentum that is fast moving towards rapid formalization of the partnership.
PM Modi’s engagements with the leaders of Germany, Nordic countries and France are but one aspect of the evolving multi-faceted, multi-dimensional relationship that embraces from both sides an ambitious agenda of cooperation spread across trade and investment, emerging technology, connectivity, climate change, green and digital transition, health, defence, maritime security, space, skill development, renewable energy, green infrastructure, developments in the Arctic, circular economy, water management and many other related issues that underlines the belated realisation of the immense possibilities for an enduring strategic partnership between India and Europe.
Golden triangle: Germany- Nordic – France
On the first leg of his European visit, PM Modi met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the firsttime in that capacity. German visit proved instrumental in the conclusion of nine agreements focused on climate action like a joint declaration of intent (JDI) on green and sustainable development partnership under which Germany would provide an additional 10 billion euros by 2030 to help India facilitate the implementation of its green growth plan entailing sourcing of at least 40% of its energy needs from renewable resources. There is also a provision for establishing a ‘Green Hydrogen Task Force’both countries are expected to jointly undertake development projects in third countries. He also chaired Sixth Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC); however, the regular annual IGC meetings which used to be the norm until the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic were postponed, and the current round was the first since 2019 that afforded an opportunity for the Indian prime minister to establish a personal rapport with the new German leadership. Unlike the previous German leadership that was pursuing mercantilism and inclination toward China, the new German leadership is reportedly shifting its orientations by casting off its mercantilism in favour of a stout strategic outlook in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
PM Modi was extended a warm and rousing welcome on his arrival in Denmark by Danish PM Mette Frederiksen. Both leaders held a meeting to review the progress of the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership.Growing friendly relations between India and Denmark make India count on Denmark among India’s closest friends in the EU.We have to realize the importance of European partnership in building India’s domestic resilience and capacities and that is perhaps the reason behind India entering into several partnership agreements withEurope that focus on enhancing trade and investments, green partnership for combating climate change, new technologies, and defence manufacturing. While focusing on renewable energy and the environment, PM Modi in his meeting with the Danish counterpart explored other areas of interest, such as agriculture, food processing, smart urban development and shipping. In Denmark, PM Modi focused on the three ‘Ts’ – trade, technology and talent – the last being an allusion to Denmark’s emergence as a vast market for India’s human resources.
Convening of the Second Nordic Summit coincided with PM Modi’s visit to Denmark. Of the five Nordic leaders participating in the Summit, only one was an old face and the rest were new faces with whom PM Modi got an opportunity to get acquainted. Of the five Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – Iceland and Norway did not participate in the India-Nordic Summit hosted by Denmark and held bilateral meetings with the heads of all other Nordic states. As per opinions in the past, the Nordic countries often approached India sanctimoniously based on their understanding of India in view of India’s democratic values, which is said to have prevented them from engaging with India with more efficacy but when the Indian opportunity hit their entrepreneurs and business community that the Nordic governments were ‘coaxed’ into taking better positions with India, ‘which are now manifest.’
India’s recently-released Arctic Policy outlines India’s role as a stakeholder in the sustainable development of the Arctic region, and India is only the second country, after the United States, with which the countries of the Nordic region have such a mechanism. In the wake of the melting of the polar ice caps, the emergence of new Arctic routes is garnering increasing attention. India enjoys an Observer Status in the Arctic Council and has embarked on several expeditions in the region along with maintaining an Arctic station. As such, India entails the potential of playing a significant role in providing ‘stability in a region of emerging contestation over connectivity and resources.’PM Modi utilized the occasion to invite the Nordic countries to invest in the Blue Economy, specifically in India’s Sagarmala project.
During his brief sojourn in France enroute back home, PM Modi held a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, who has been re-elected to the office, and Modi was the first foreign dignitary to meet President Macron after his re-election. France has been India’s strategic partner for many years. PM Modi and President Macron enjoy a warm personal relationship that gives fillip to a broadening and deepening strategic partnership, especially in the defence sector that constitutes the cornerstone of India-France friendly relations and represents the vision of aatamnirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing. According to one analyst, independent French foreign policy, French support to India in the UN Security Council on sensitive issues, and France’s status as a resident power in the Indo-Pacific region is some of the major attributes that symbolise the essentiality of strategic partnership between India and France. PM Modi’s personalized diplomacy adds to the diplomatic success of Modi’s recent visit to Europe.
The growing strategic partnership between India and France entails vast scope for their mutual cooperation in working together in third countries, including Africa. France is a trustworthy and a significant partner in the Quad Plus countries, and the naval exercises of the Quad countries with France in the Bay of Bengal in April 2021 bode well for working out a broader consensus among like-minded countries on major challenges confronting the Indo-Pacific region.
War Forward
These visits to three European nations have been instrumental in unfolding new vistas of opportunities in different fields. Commonalities of interests and similarities in strategic outlook bind India and the European Union. An indication of this had been given by the European Commission chief during her visit to India in the closing part of April this year. She minced no words when she said, “As like-minded partners, the European Union and India will be working on several tracks. We have launched negotiations on a free trade agreement, as well as on investment protection and geographical indications. For Europe, this is a strategic investment in our partnership with India.”
Interestingly, both sides have worked on the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a strategic coordination mechanism which involves the formation of working groups, providing the political steer and the necessary structure to operationalise political decisions, coordinate technical work, in areas that are significant for the sustainable progress of European and Indian economies. Interestingly, India is the only country, after the United States, with which the EU has formed the TTC.
Apart from consolidating bilateral friendly relations with the European countries, PM Modi also seems to have successfully got the attention of the Europeans focused on the Indo-Pacific and its importance, and reference to the Indo-Pacific in the joint statements is a testimony of Modi’s dynamism. What is perhaps most significant about this trip is the growing importance accorded to India in world affairs, and a growing desire for many countries in Europe going through hard economic times, to engage with it.In a world increasingly impacted by geostrategic shifts, ideological rivalry and fractured power, the pragmatic foreign policy of PM Modi has enabled India to emerge as a significant global player. Apart from the efficacy of style and the substantive elements that are worked out in advance, Prime Minister Modi’s deft timing and personalized visit could only win the hearts or translate into diplomatic win as well?
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
