View source for Foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government

{{Short description|Foreign policy of India since 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Narendra Modi series}}
{{Outdated as of|October 2023}}
The '''foreign policy of the Modi  government''', also referred to as the '''Modi doctrine'''<ref name="thediplomat">{{cite magazine |last1=Harsh V. Pant |date=13 November 2014 |title=Out With Non-Alignment, In With a 'Modi Doctrine' |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/11/out-with-non-alignment-in-with-a-modi-doctrine/ |access-date=1 February 2015 |magazine=[[The Diplomat]]}}</ref><ref name="carnegie">{{cite web |last1=Jaffrelot |first=Christophe |date=20 November 2014 |title=A Modi Doctrine? |url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/11/20/modi-doctrine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201171315/http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/11/20/modi-doctrine |archive-date=1 February 2015 |access-date=1 February 2015 |publisher=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]}}</ref> is associated with the policy initiatives made towards other states by the current government of [[India]] after [[Narendra Modi]]  assumed the office of [[prime minister of India|prime minister]] on May 26, 2014.
{{multiple image
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| image1 = 24 08 2022 Encontro com Ministro das Relações Exteriores da Índia, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (52308615965) (cropped).jpg
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| image2 = Smt. Sushma Swaraj taking charge as the Union Minister for External Affairs, in New Delhi on May 28, 2014 (cropped).jpg
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| footer = [[S. Jaishankar]] (left; 2019–present) and [[Sushma Swaraj]] (right; 2014–2019), the ministers in-charge.
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The [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]], headed by External Affairs Minister [[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar]], is responsible for executing the foreign policy of India. Modi's foreign policy is focused on improving relations with neighboring countries in South Asia,<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |last=Lakshmi |first=Rama |date=5 August 2014 |title=Modi's speech in Nepal shows India is paying attention to its neighbors |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/08/05/modis-speech-in-nepal-shows-india-is-paying-attention-to-its-neighbors/ |access-date=6 August 2014 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> engaging the extended neighbourhood of Southeast Asia and the major global powers. In pursuit of this, he has made official visits to [[Bhutan]], [[Nepal]], and Japan within the first 100 days of his government, followed by visits to the United States, [[Myanmar]], Australia, and Fiji.
==Background==
In his former role as [[List of chief ministers of Gujarat|Chief Minister of Gujarat]], Modi made several foreign trips to foster business relations with major Asian economic powers. This included meetings with Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]] in 2007 and 2012, which reportedly built personal rapport.<ref name="firstpost1">{{cite news|author=Rajeev Sharma |url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/modis-equation-with-shinzo-abe-will-make-mission-japan-a-success-1567795.html |title=Modi's equation with Shinzo Abe will make Mission Japan a success |work=Firstpost |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> He also reached out for investment deals with China<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/sino-india-ties-set-for-big-boost-under-modi-chinese-media_935216.html |title=Sino-India ties set for "big boost" under Modi: Chinese media |date=27 May 2014 |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> and Israel,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/173767/modi-israels-new-best-friend |title=Is Narendra Modi, India's New Prime Minister, Israel's New Best Friend? |date=23 May 2014 |author=Moskowitz, Jeff |work=[[Tablet Magazine]] |access-date=28 July 2014}}</ref> who sought to increase economic ties beyond defense and agriculture, according to Israeli Ambassador [[Alon Ushpiz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/israel-to-expand-ties-with-modi-govt-offers-help-in-ganga-clean-up/ |title=Israel to expand ties with Modi govt, offers help in Ganga clean-up |work=The Indian Express |date=13 June 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> Modi was widely appreciated for his endeavor to organize [[Vibrant Gujarat]], a biannual international business summit, which welcomed investment in his home state and helped build a pro-development and business friendly image.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vibrant-Gujarat-Summit-2013-Ratan-Tata-praises-Narendra-Modi/articleshow/17982666.cms |title=Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013: Ratan Tata praises Narendra Modi |work=The Times of India |date=11 January 2013 |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>
==2014 general election==
{{Main|2014 Indian general election}}
In 2014 Modi did not make any major foreign policy speeches during the [[Campaigning in the Indian general election, 2014|general election campaign]], but he called out China's potential aggression along the [[Line of actual control|border]] with [[India]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/in-arunachal-narendra-modi-warns-china/#narendramodi-arunachal |title=In Arunachal, Narendra Modi warns China |work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=23 February 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> He also focused on "illegal immigration" from [[Bangladesh]], particularly during the later part of his campaign in the [[East India|Eastern States]], including [[Assam]] and [[West Bengal]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/column/ls-election-why-modi-is-right-on-the-bangladeshi-migrants-issue/20140513.htm |title= Why Modi is right on the Bangladeshi migrants' issue |work=[[Oneindia.in]] |date= 13 May 2014 |access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref> and asserted that [[Hindu]]s outside the country would be able to seek asylum in [[India]] if they required it.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/indias-2014-elections-narendra-modi-says-some-illegal-immigrants-bangladesh-are-better-others |title=India's 2014 Elections: Narendra Modi Says Some Illegal Immigrants From Bangladesh Are Better Than Others |work=International Business Times |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> He acknowledged the fact that he was going to be the first [[Prime Minister of India]] to be born after independence and that it would be natural to expect a shift in world view from his predecessors'. He also pledged to have a "strong" foreign policy, which includes trading with China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/business/international/modi-pledges-strong-foreign-policy-1.1700748 |title=Modi pledges strong foreign policy |work=Independent Online|location=South Africa |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> He asked the External Affairs Ministry to focus more on trade deals than other geopolitical initiatives.<ref>{{cite news|last=Busvine |first=Douglas |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-election-diplomacy-idUSBREA4F0KC20140516 |title=Election landslide to embolden India's Modi on world stage |work=[[Reuters]] |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref>
Modi's first foreign policy outlook was revealed during the run-up for the Prime Ministerial candidate in his party in 2013 when he was in a [[Network 18]] program called ''Think India, dialogue forum''. He mentioned the following points: {{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
* Improving relations with immediate [[South Asia|neighbors]] would be his priority as peace and tranquillity in South Asia were essential in order to realize his development [[Political agenda|agenda]].
* He pledged to introduce the concept of [[paradiplomacy]] in India where each state and city would have the liberty to forge special relations with countries, federal states, or cities of their interest.
* Bilateral trade would dominate relations with most countries except for a few important global powers with which [[India]] shares a [[strategic partnership]].
Modi responded to the congratulatory messages and phone calls from most world leaders that he had received in the aftermath of his victory.<ref>{{cite news|author=Aswathy |url=http://news.oneindia.in/india/lankan-govt-foreign-media-react-bjp-s-election-victory-lse-1448155.html |title=World leaders, media react to Narendra Modi led BJP's election victory |work=[[Oneindia.in]] |date=17 May 2014 |access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref>
===Inauguration===
{{Main|First swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi}}
Before Modi formally took office as prime minister, he invited all heads of state and heads of government of India's neighbors to his inauguration and downplayed his former reputation as a [[hardline]]r. Almost all of the [[SAARC]] leaders attended Modi's [[First swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi|swearing-in ceremony]], along with [[Navin Ramgoolam]] of [[Mauritius]], who held observer status at the event. The guest list included Afghanistan's [[Hamid Karzai]], Bhutan's [[Tshering Tobgay]], the Maldives' [[Abdulla Yameen]], Nepal's [[Sushil Koirala]], Pakistan's [[Nawaz Sharif]], Sri Lanka's [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]], and Mauritius' [[Navin Ramgoolam]]. As Bangladeshi Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]] was travelling, parliamentary Speaker [[Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury]] came instead. [[Lobsang Sangay]], the Prime Minister of [[Central Tibetan Administration]], also attended.<ref>{{cite news|author=Krishna Uppuluri |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-s-swearing-in-offers-a-new-lease-of-life-to-saarc-1991170 |title=Narendra Modi's swearing-in offers a new lease of life to SAARC |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=25 May 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> International media reacted positively to the ceremony after being critical of Modi's foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/pm-swearing-in-us-media-praises-modi-for-inviting-all-saarc-leaders-1543971.html |title=PM swearing-in: US media praises Modi for inviting all SAARC leaders |work=Firstpost |date=27 May 2014 |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>
=== Approach of P5 nations ===
Soon after the new government formed, <!-- Removed "important"; sounds subjective -->world leaders expressed their willingness to work with the Modi Government to strengthen their relations with India as it would provide them with a bigger market. All five permanent member states of the [[United Nations Security Council]] sent their envoys to India within the first 100 days after inauguration, which is significant given India's long-standing bid to get a permanent membership at [[United Nations Security Council|UNSC]].
* China sent its envoy to India first after the Modi government came into power, Chinese Foreign Minister [[Wang Yi (politician)|Wang Yi]] visited New Delhi on 8 June, held bilateral talks with his counterpart, and met with Modi. China indicated a willingness to reach a final settlement over their contested borders.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-10/china-tries-to-woo-indias-prime-minister-narendra-modi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611005112/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-10/china-tries-to-woo-indias-prime-minister-narendra-modi |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2014 |title=China Tries to Woo India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=10 June 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Iftikhar Gilani |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-seeks-narendra-modi-s-company-to-dominate-the-world-1994552 |title=Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi seeks Narendra Modi's company to dominate the world |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=10 June 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref>
* Russian Deputy chairman [[Dmitry Rogozin]] visited India on 18–19 June 2014 to reach out to the new government led by Modi. Where the two sides discussed the cooperation in joint defense production which was one of Modi's top agendas. Modi met with President [[Vladimir Putin]] in July on the sidelines of [[6th BRICS summit]] in Brazil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-info.htm?1/697/Visit+of+Deputy+Chairman+of+the+Government+of+the+Russian+Federation+to+India+June+1819+2014 | title=Visit of Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation to India (June 18–19, 2014) | publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India}}</ref>
* French Foreign Minister [[Laurent Fabius]] made an official visit to India from 29 June{{En dash}}2 July and held high-level talks with both the External Affairs Minister and Modi. Strategic and defense cooperation was at the top of his agenda and he expressed his hopes of a quick completion of [[Dassault Rafale|the Dassault Rafale]] Jet deal as part of the delayed Indian [[MMRCA]] project under the new government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-info.htm?1/702/Official+Visit+of+Foreign+Minister+of+French+Republic+to+India+June+29++July+2+2014 | title=Official Visit of Foreign Minister of French Republic to India (June 29 – July 2, 2014) | publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India}}</ref>
* British Foreign Secretary [[William Hague]] visited India on 7–8 July. During his meeting with Modi, he lobbied for the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] to be considered instead of the [[Dassault Rafale]] for purchase.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-info.htm?1/703/Visit+of+Foreign+Secretary+of+United+Kingdom+to+India+July+78+2014 | title=Visit of Foreign Secretary of United Kingdom to India (July 7–8, 2014) | publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India}}</ref>
* Prior to his India trip, U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] emphasized the importance of US-India relations in the twenty-first century and quoted the [[Hindi]] slogan from Modi's campaign "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas" (meaning "everyone's support, everyone's development") and said America shared this goal and was willing to work in full cooperation with the new government to realize it. He arrived in New Delhi on 1 August and held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart to prepare the groundwork for Modi's USA visit and also lobbied to gain India's support for [[International sanctions during the Ukrainian crisis|sanctions on Russia amidst the 2014 Ukraine crisis]]. In regards to the appeal, [[Sushma Swaraj|Swaraj]] said: "There is no change in our policy. We think that foreign policy is in continuity. Foreign policy does not change with the change in the government."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140803/DEFREG01/308030008/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812025552/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140803/DEFREG01/308030008/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2014 |title=Russia Sanctions: India Defiant, Finland Nervous |publisher=defensenews.com |date=30 July 2014 |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>
== 2019 general election ==
{{Main|2019 Indian general election|Campaigning in the 2019 Indian general election|l2 = campaigns of all parties}}
In [[Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for the 2019 Indian general election|2019 campaign]], Modi has not been too much active in the election party campaign and the responsibility was taken by [[Amit Shah]] (who was then [[List of presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party|president of the party]]).<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=26 December 2018|title=Amit Shah announces team to steer Bjp in 2019 election campaigns in 17 states|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/amit-shah-announces-team-to-steer-bjps-2019-election-campaign-in-17-states_in_5c239321e4b08aaf7a8cff24|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331192817/https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/amit-shah-announces-team-to-steer-bjps-2019-election-campaign-in-17-states_in_5c239321e4b08aaf7a8cff24|archive-date=2019-03-31|access-date=2021-01-10|website=[[The Huffington Post]]}}</ref> Still, he was the prime-ministerial candidate of the party and he attacked the [[Pakistan]] many a times in his rallies and specially after the [[2019 Pulwama attack]] and also used [[2019 Balakot airstrike|Balakot airstrike]] as an election topic.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 12, 2019|title=Country has to decide what kind of 'pradhan sevak' it wants: PM Modi|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/country-has-to-decide-what-kind-of-pradhan-sevak-it-wants-pm-modi/articleshow/67504012.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113062320/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/country-has-to-decide-what-kind-of-pradhan-sevak-it-wants-pm-modi/articleshow/67504012.cms|archive-date=2019-01-13|access-date=2021-01-11|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref>
=== Inauguration ===
{{Main|Second swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi}}
Modi, who was parliamentary leader of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], started his tenure after his swearing-in as the 16th [[Prime Minister of India]] on 30 May 2019. Several [[Second Modi ministry|other ministers]] were also sworn in along with Modi.<ref>{{Cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=2019-05-30|title=Modi Swearing-in Highlights: New team blend of youthful energy, experience: PM|url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-narendra-modi-swearing-in-oath-ceremony-live-updates-1559197877056.html|access-date=2021-01-11|website=mint|language=en}}</ref> The ceremony was noted by media for being the first ever swearing-in of an Indian Prime Minister to have been attended by the heads of all [[BIMSTEC]] countries.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Delhi|first=India Today Web Desk New|date=May 30, 2019 |title=High-profile world leaders to attend PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony. A look at guest list|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-narendra-swearing-ceremony-prime-minister-guest-list-world-leaders-bimstec-rashtrapati-bhavan-1537283-2019-05-29|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108000741/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-narendra-swearing-ceremony-prime-minister-guest-list-world-leaders-bimstec-rashtrapati-bhavan-1537283-2019-05-29|archive-date=2020-11-08|access-date=2021-01-11|website=[[India Today]]|language=en}}</ref>
=== Approach ===
== 2024 general election ==
{{Main|2024 Indian general election|Third swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi}}
==Foreign policy team==
===2018 foreign policy team===
{{Further|Sushma Swaraj's tenure as External Affairs Minister}}
{{multiple image
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| footer =
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| caption1 = [[Sushma Swaraj]]<br />'''[[Minister of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs Minister]]'''
| link1 = Sushma Swaraj
| image2 = India's Minister of State for External Affairs Vijay Kumar Singh (15760995677) (cropped).jpg
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| caption2 = [[V. K. Singh]]<br />'''[[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of State for External Affairs]]'''
| link2 = V K Singh
| image3 = Vijay Gokhale.jpg
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| caption3 = [[Vijay Keshav Gokhale]]<br />'''[[Foreign Secretary (India)|Foreign Secretary]]'''
| link3 = Vijay Gokhale
| image4 = Ajit Doval 2014.jpg
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| caption4 = [[Ajit Doval]]<br />'''[[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]]'''
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[[Sushma Swaraj]], one of the senior leaders of BJP, was given the portfolio of External Affairs which was going to be a very important ministry with India's growing role in international affairs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-25|title=A Sampling of Public Opinion in India|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/03/25/a-sampling-of-public-opinion-in-india/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414152518/https://www.pewglobal.org/2019/03/25/a-sampling-of-public-opinion-in-india/|archive-date=2019-04-14|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project|language=en-US}}</ref> She was the first woman to hold the office. Earlier on her capacity of [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|leader of opposition in Lok Sabha]] from 2009 to 2014 She met a galaxy of visiting foreign leaders which apparently helped her understand foreign relations. Modi appointed [[Ajit Doval]], a seasoned intelligence officer, as National Security Advisor (NSA).
===2024 foreign policy team===
{{multiple image
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| caption1 = [[S Jaishankar]]<br />'''[[Minister of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs Minister]]''' since 2019
| link1 = S. Jaishankar
| image2 = Vikram_Misri_in_2024_(cropped).jpg
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| caption2 = [[Vikram Misri]]<br />'''[[Foreign Secretary (India)|Foreign Secretary]]'''
| link2 = Vikram Misri
| image3 = Ajit_Kumar_Doval.jpg|thumb
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| caption3 = [[Ajit Doval]]<br />'''[[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]]'''
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On 28 January 2015, only a day after the US President Barack Obama's successful India visit, the Modi government sacked Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and appointed [[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar]] in her place, Jaishankar used to be as India's ambassador to the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/02/balancing-indias-right/|title=Balancing India's Right|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=15 February 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref> Modi himself was believed to be unhappy over Singh's ability to lead the foreign office and on the other hand impressed by Jaishankar's diplomatic skills in turning the flagging relationship with the US into a flourishing partnership.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-tightens-grip-over-foreign-policy-BJP-Cong-lock-horns-over-Sujatha-sacking/articleshow/46052716.cms|title=Modi tightens grip over foreign policy; BJP, Cong lock horns over Sujatha sacking|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 January 2015|access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref> His secondary aides also include [[Arvind Gupta (administrator)|Arvind Gupta]] (deputy NSA) and [[M. J. Akbar|MJ Akbar]] (sworn in as the Minister of State for External Affairs).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/arvind-gupta-appointed-deputy-nsa/article6282651.ece|title=Arvind Gupta appointed deputy NSA|date=5 August 2014|newspaper=The Hindu|issn=0971-751X|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mos-for-external-affairs-mj-akbar-to-be-nda-governments-e-ahamed/articleshow/53123890.cms|title=MoS for External Affairs MJ Akbar to be NDA government's E Ahamed – The Economic Times|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref>
[[S. Jaishankar]] was appointed as Minister of External Affairs since May 2019, <ref>{{cite news |title=S Jaishankar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/s-jaishankar-rajya-sabha-member-1564342-2019-07-08 |access-date=13 June 2020 |work=India Today |agency=PTI |date=8 July 2019 |location=Delhi |language=en}}</ref> he succeeded  [[Sushma Swaraj]] who was the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs Minister]] in [[First Modi ministry|Narendra Modi]]'s Government in his first stint. Jaishankar is the first former Foreign Secretary of India to head the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] as the Cabinet Minister.<ref>{{cite news|title=S. Jaishankar: From Backroom to Corner Office, the Rise of Modi's Favourite Diplomat|url=https://thewire.in/diplomacy/jaishankar-modi-favourite-diplomat-mea|access-date=9 July 2020|work=The Wire|date=1 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/politics/narendra-modi-government-2-0-former-foreign-secretary-s-jaishankar-appointed-as-minister-of-external-affairs-3518011.htm|title=Narendra Modi Government 2.0: Former foreign secretary S Jaishankar appointed as Minister of external affairs Affairs|work=CNBCTV18|date=31 May 2019|access-date=4 June 2019}}</ref> [[Vikram Misri]] is serving Foreign Secretary of India since July, 2024.
==Policy initiative==
Former National Security Adviser & Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, an academic at Brookings, opined that the Modi Government's foreign policy is one of "strategic incoherence", executed without an "overarching conceptual framework".<ref>Ravi Kumar Pillai Kandamath in the Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. See Ravi Kumar Pillai Kandamath (2018) Shivshankar Menon. Choices: Inside the Making of India’s Foreign Policy, Asian Affairs, 49:1, 151–154, DOI: 10.1080/03068374.2018.1416024</ref> There have been many policy initiatives since that has been making the headlines:
===Act East policy===
{{Main|Act East policy}}
From the very beginning the Modi led government made it amply clear that India would focus more and more on improving relations with [[ASEAN]], and other East Asian countries as per India's [[Look East policy (India)|Look East policy]] which was formulated during PM [[P. V. Narasimha Rao|Narasimha Rao]]'s government in 1992 for better economic engagement with its eastern neighbours but the successive government later successfully turned it into a tool for forging strategic partnership and security cooperation with countries in that region in general and Vietnam and Japan in particular.<ref name="Vietnam News Agency">{{cite web |url=http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/89377/vietnam-among-pillars-of-india-s--look-east--policy.html |title=Vietnam among pillars of India's "Look East" policy |date=18 November 2013 |website=english.vietnamnet.vn |agency=[[Vietnam News Agency]] |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717194521/https://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/89377/vietnam-among-pillars-of-india-s--look-east--policy.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In her recent visit to [[Hanoi]], Vietnam Sushma Swaraj has stressed on the need for an "Act East Policy"<ref name="Firstpost">{{cite web|url=http://firstbiz.firstpost.com/economy/modi-govt-give-greater-push-indias-look-east-policy-says-sushma-swaraj-94718.html|title=Modi govt to give greater push to India's Look East Policy, says Sushma Swaraj|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=25 August 2014|access-date=10 September 2014|archive-date=10 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195033/http://firstbiz.firstpost.com/economy/modi-govt-give-greater-push-indias-look-east-policy-says-sushma-swaraj-94718.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> that she said should replace India's over two-decade-old "Look East Policy" emphasizing a more proactive role for India in this region.<ref name="The Economic Times">{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-26/news/53243802_1_india-and-asean-countries-east-asia-strategically-important-region|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829043354/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-26/news/53243802_1_india-and-asean-countries-east-asia-strategically-important-region|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 August 2014|title=Sushma Swaraj tells Indian envoys to Act East and not just Look East|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=26 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/11/modi-unveils-indias-act-east-policy-to-asean-in-myanmar/|title=Modi Unveils India's 'Act East Policy' to ASEAN in Myanmar|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=17 November 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/look-east-has-become-act-east-policy-pm-modi-at-asean/|title='Look East' has become 'Act East Policy': PM Narendra Modi at ASEAN|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=12 November 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref>
===Neighbourhood first policy===
{{Main|Neighbourhood first policy}}
One of the major policy initiatives taken by the Modi government is to focus back on its immediate neighbors in South Asia. Gujral doctrine was an important approach where India made its relation with its neighborhood which stands on five important principles. Even before becoming the prime minister, [[Narendra Modi]] hinted that his foreign policy will actively focus on improving ties with India's immediate neighbours which is being termed "neighborhood first: policy in the media"<ref name="articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-07-03/news/51057722_1_prime-minister-narendra-modi-friendly-neighbours-nepal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707113256/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-07-03/news/51057722_1_prime-minister-narendra-modi-friendly-neighbours-nepal|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2014|title=Narendra Modi's push for strong relations with neighbours|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=3 July 2014|access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="India, Modi and the neighbourhood">{{cite web|url=http://www.gatewayhouse.in/india-modi-and-the-neighbourhood/|title=India, Modi and the neighbourhood|publisher=Gateway House|date=25 August 2014|access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/nepal-enthralled-by-visit-of-india-s-prime-minister-who-hits-the-right-notes-570277?pfrom=home-otherstories |title=Nepal Enthralled by Visit of India's Prime Minister, Who Hits 'the Right Notes' |date=7 June 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref> and he started well by inviting all heads of state/heads of government of South Asian countries in his inauguration and on the second day on the office he held bilateral talks with all of them individually which was dubbed as a [[List of SAARC summits|mini SAARC summit]] by the media.<ref name="The mini SAARC summit">{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140601/editorial/the-mini-saarc-summit-100977.html|title=The mini SAARC summit|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=1 June 2014|access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref> Later during a launch event at [[ISRO]], he asked Indian scientists to take the endeavour to develop a dedicated [[SAARC satellite]]<ref name="claws.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.claws.in/1248/saarc-satellite-to-strengthen-relations-with-neighbours-radhakrishna-rao.html|title=SAARC Satellite to Strengthen Relations with Neighbours|publisher=Center for Land and Warfare Studies|date=3 September 2014|access-date=3 November 2014|archive-date=3 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103224856/http://www.claws.in/1248/saarc-satellite-to-strengthen-relations-with-neighbours-radhakrishna-rao.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> to share the fruits of the technology like tele-medicine, e-learning, etc. with the people across South Asia to complement the currently operating [[Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme]] program in the region.
===Indian Ocean outreach===
The Indian Ocean region (IOR), which has long been considered as India's nautical backyard, is steadily turning into a hotspot thanks to growing Chinese strategic presence over the region's numerous strategically located archipelagos.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/02/the-small-islands-holding-the-key-to-the-indian-ocean/|title=The Small Islands Holding the Key to the Indian Ocean|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=24 February 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref> To counter the recent moves made by China in the name of President Xi's pet [[Maritime Silk Road]] project, India started to reach out its maritime neighbors in the IOR with proposals of enhanced economic and security cooperation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/india-mooring-in-foreign-shores/16031162|title=India: Mooring in foreign shores?|newspaper=[[Mid-Day]]|date=3 March 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref> The policy towards IOR started to unfold during [[President of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan president]]'s visit to New Delhi in early February 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/printpage.php?idno=2104399&sr_no=0|title=Ocean diplomacy: Sirisena visit key for India to tackle China's Maritime Silk Route ambitions|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=17 February 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref> Following that Modi embarked on a three nations ''Yatraa'' (travel) to Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurasiareview.com/03032015-indian-ocean-modi-on-a-maritime-pilgrimage-analysis/ |title=INDIAN OCEAN: MODI ON A MARITIME PILGRIMAGE – ANALYSIS |publisher=[[Euresia Review]] |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=7 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304235915/http://www.eurasiareview.com/03032015-indian-ocean-modi-on-a-maritime-pilgrimage-analysis/ |archive-date=4 March 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-to-offer-sri-lanka-the-maldives-mauritius-and-seychelles-help-to-counter-china-influence/articleshow/46464956.cms|title=PM Narendra Modi to offer Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles help to counter China influence|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=5 March 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref> although Maldives was also initially part of this outreach, the recent political turmoil in that country led to the last-minute cancellation of the scheduled visit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/pm-modi-cancels-trip-to-maldives-is-it-because-of-yameen-govts-rebuttal-in-nasheed-casepm-modi-cancels-trip-to-maldives-is-it-because-yameen-govts-rebuttal-in-nasheed-case-2140761.html|title=PM Modi cancels trip to Maldives: Is it because of Yameen govt's rebuttal in Nasheed case?|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=7 March 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>
Ahead of Modi's scheduled visit to Beijing in May 2015, India wanted to project that it commanded a strategic supremacy over the IOR and that its relations with its maritime neighbors were far more cordial than that of China's with particular reference to [[South China Sea]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govts-Indian-Ocean-gambit-gathers-pace/articleshow/46281400.cms|title=Govt's Indian Ocean gambit gathers pace|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 February 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/02/creating-a-security-architecture-for-the-indian-ocean/|title=Creating a Security Architecture for the Indian Ocean|magazine= [[The Diplomat]] |date=25 February 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/461888/delhi-expand-ties-indian-ocean.html|title=New Delhi to expand ties with Indian Ocean nations|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=24 February 2015|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>
===Project Mausam===
{{Main|Project Mausam}}
On the back of growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean region,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/Sri-Lanka-snubs-India-opens-port-to-Chinese-submarine-again/articleshow/45009064.cms|title=Sri Lanka snubs India, opens port to Chinese submarine again|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=2 November 2014 |access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref> which India considers its area of responsibility, the Modi administration has introduced '''[[Project Mausam]]''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/project-mausam|title=Mausam: Maritime Routes and Cultural Landscapes|publisher=[[Ministry of Culture (India)]]|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref> which is believed to rival the Chinese [[Maritime Silk Road]] (MSR) initiative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oneindia.com/feature/project-mausam-india-s-answer-china-s-maritime-might-expla-1523058.html|title=Project Mausam, India's answer to China's maritime might: Explained|publisher=OneIndia.com|date=16 September 2014|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/09/project-mausam-indias-answer-to-chinas-maritime-silk-road/|title=Project Mausam: India's Answer to China's 'Maritime Silk Road'|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=18 September 2014|access-date=27 November 2014}}</ref> ''Mausam'' (Hindi: मौसम) which means weather or season in many South and Southeast Asian languages is highlighted because of its profound role in cultural exchanges in the region as in ancient time maritime trade used to depend on seasonal monsoon winds. The project, which is still in the evolving phase, is being planned with the [[Ministry of Culture (India)|Cultural Ministry]], that will focus on the ancient trade and cultural linkages with emphasis on future maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region stretching from Southeast Asia to East Africa with the central location of India, from where the ocean derived its name.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Narendra-Modis-Mausam-manoeuvre-to-check-Chinas-maritime-might/articleshow/42562085.cms|title=Narendra Modi's 'Mausam' manoeuvre to check China's maritime might|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=16 September 2014|access-date=27 November 2014}}</ref>
===Cooperation with Pacific Islands===
{{Main|Forum for India-Pacific Islands cooperation}}
Modi chose to visit Fiji soon after democracy was re-established in the island country after 8 years. There apart from the bilateral meeting, he also met heads of state/government from 14 pacific island states to enhance India's engagement in the region and proposed a 'Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation' (FIPIC) be held on a regular basis.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Modi-woos-Fiji-days-ahead-of-Xis-visit/articleshow/45211853.cms|title=PM Modi woos Fiji days ahead of Xi's visit|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=20 November 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref> He conveyed there India's keenness to work closely with Pacific Island nations to advance their development priorities. In this regard a number of measures to strengthen India's partnership in the region were proposed that includes setting up of a 'special fund of $1&nbsp;billion' for adapting climate change vis-a-vis clean energy, establishing a 'trade office' in India, 'Pan Pacific Islands e-network' to close the physical distance between the islands by improving digital connectivity, extending visa on arrival at Indian airports for all the fourteen Pacific Island countries, 'space cooperation' in space technology applications for improving the quality of life on the islands, 'training to diplomats' from Pacific Island countries to increase mutual understanding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fijilive.com/news/2014/11/modi-proposes-forum-for-india-pacific-cooperation/59709/ |title=Modi proposes Forum for India-Pacific |publisher=[[Fiji Live]] |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=24 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129075131/http://fijilive.com/news/2014/11/modi-proposes-forum-for-india-pacific-cooperation/59709/ |archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> He also expressed his willingness to host the leaders in any of India's coastal town for the next summit in 2015. It was quite significant to see [[President of the People's Republic of China|Chinese President]] Xi following Modi's trail visited Fiji on 21 November (just 2 days after Modi's trip) to meet a similar gathering of leaders indicating a struggle for influence between the two Asian giants in the island countries of south pacific.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.claws.in/1288/india-china-chase-now-extends-to-fiji-with-modi-and-xis-visits-dr-monika-chansoria.html|title=India-China Chase now Extends to Fiji with Modi and Xi's Visits|publisher=Centre for Land and Warfare Studies|date=21 November 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/fijian-stopover-as-narendra-modi-and-xi-jinping-charm-pacific/story-e6frg6nf-1227130089619|title=Fijian stopover as Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping charm Pacific|newspaper=[[The Australian]]|date=21 November 2014|access-date=24 November 2014}}</ref>
===Fast-track Diplomacy===
On completion of the first 100 days of Modi government, the External Affairs Ministry published a booklet called '''"Fast Track Diplomacy"'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?23980/Fast+Track+Diplomacy|title=Fast Track Diplomacy}}</ref> show-casing the achievement made in the foreign policy arena. In her first media interaction, the minister [[Sushma Swaraj]] said the catchphrase for her tenure was "fast-track diplomacy" and said it had three faces – proactive, strong and sensitive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modis-100-days-sushma-swaraj-talks-tough-on-pakistan-china-and-us/articleshow/42059026.cms|title=PM Modi's 100 days: Sushma Swaraj talks tough on Pakistan, China and the US|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=9 September 2014 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> Since taking office the External Affairs Minister held a round-table meeting with all Indian heads of missions to the SAARC region, ASEAN region and the Middle East separately as a follow-up measure to carry forward the leads gained by high-profile visits and exchanges.
===Para Diplomacy===
One of the innovative ideas of Modi government is the introduction of elements of [[paradiplomacy]] in India's foreign policy where each state and cities would be encouraged to forge special relation with countries or federal states of another country or even cities of their interest.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2013/11/paradiplomacy-a-new-way-for-indian-foreign-policy/|title=Paradiplomacy: A New Way for Indian Foreign Policy?|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=10 November 2013|access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>
During the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, [[Town twinning]] agreement between [[Mumbai]] and Shanghai, [[Ahmedabad]] and [[Guangzhou]] and a similar 'sister states' agreement between [[Gujarat]] and [[Guangdong]] of China will likely to be signed. Earlier [[Varanasi]] signed a partnership agreement with [[Kyoto]], Japan.
==East Asia and South East Asia policy==
{{Main|Asian foreign policy of Narendra Modi government}}
[[File:Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kuala Lumpur on May 31, 2018.jpg|thumb|On May 31, 2018, Modi met with [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Malaysian Prime Minister]] [[Mahathir Mohamad]] in [[Kuala Lumpur]].]]
From the very beginning, the Modi led government made it amply clear that India would focus more and more on improving relation with [[ASEAN]] and other East Asian countries as per India's [[Look East policy (India)|Look East policy]] which was formulated during [[P. V. Narasimha Rao|Narasimha Rao]]'s government in 1992 for better economic engagement with its eastern neighbors, but the successive government later successfully turned it into a tool for forging strategic partnership and security cooperation with countries in that region in general and Vietnam and Japan in particular.<ref name="Vietnam News Agency"/> In her recent visit to [[Hanoi]], Vietnam Sushma Swaraj has stressed on the need for an [[Act East policy]]<ref name="Firstpost"/> that she said should replace India's over two-decade-old Look East Policy emphasizing a more proactive role for India in this region.<ref name="The Economic Times"/>
East Asia being the major focus area of his foreign policy, Modi and his foreign minister chose several Asian countries for their initial bilateral visits. He has made state visits to Bhutan and Nepal and Japan within the first 100 days of his government followed by visits of Myanmar and Australia and also hosted Asia leaders like Australian Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]], Chinese President [[Xi Jinping]] and Vietnamese Prime Minister [[Nguyễn Tấn Dũng]] apart from inviting [[SAARC]] leaders in his inauguration ceremony. External Affairs Minister Swaraj has also made official visits to several Asian capitals like [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh, [[Kathmandu]], Nepal, [[Naypidaw]], Myanmar, Singapore, [[Hanoi]], Vietnam, [[Manama]], Bahrain, [[Kabul]], Afghanistan, [[Dushanbe]], Tajikistan, Male, Maldives, [[Abu Dhabi]], United Arab Emirates [[Seoul]], South Korea and Beijing, China.
===South China Sea disputes===
Though India's exclusive economic zone does not extend into the [[South China Sea]], the region is geopolitically important to India as a high volume of its trade passes through the South China Sea. Modi intends India to act as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific Region as a part of Modi's underlying [[Look East policy (India)|Act East]] foreign policy initiative .<ref>{{citation|title=Trump Is Driving Xi into Modi's Arms|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/27/trump-is-driving-xi-into-modis-arms/|work=[[Foreign Policy]]|date=27 April 2018}}</ref>
==South Asia policy==
{{Further|South Asian foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government}}
Even before becoming the Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] hinted that his foreign policy will actively focus on improving ties with India's immediate neighbors which is being termed as "neighborhood first" policy in the media<ref name="articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com"/><ref name="India, Modi and the neighbourhood"/><ref name="The New York Times"/> and he started well by inviting all heads of state/heads of government of South Asian countries in his inauguration and on the second day on the office he held bilateral talks with all of them individually which was dubbed as a [[List of SAARC summits|mini SAARC summit]] by the media.<ref name="The mini SAARC summit"/> Later during a launch event at [[ISRO]], he has asked Indian scientists to take the endeavor to develop a dedicated ''SAARC satellite'',<ref name="claws.in"/> to share the fruits of the technology like tele-medicine, e-learning etc. with the people across South Asia to complement the currently operating [[Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme]] program in the region.
==West Asia policy==
{{Further|Middle Eastern foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government}}
Indian External Affairs Ministry refers to the region of 'Middle East' as West Asia and not as the Middle East which is a more popular attribution, particularly in the western countries. The region plays a vital role in India's economy as it supplies nearly two-thirds of India's total oil import, bilateral trade is also flourishing in recent years particularly with UAE and other Gulf states. Over the years millions of Indians mostly working class have migrated to the gulf looking for jobs and they account for a sizeable share in the total remittances received from abroad.
===Link West policy===
In an attempt to strengthen ties with India's western neighbors specially the [[Persian Gulf]] countries, Modi proposed this policy to complement his [[Act East policy]] concerning East Asia. Although it is called 'Link West' (West of India) which gives it a bigger geographical connotation, it is most likely to focus on the middle-east and some of India's strategic thinkers are calling it as Modi's middle-east policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/modi-and-the-middle-east-towards-a-link-west-policy/|title=Modi and the Middle East: Towards a Link West Policy|author=C Raja Mohan|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=5 October 2014|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> The West Asia Approach of India<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dnd.com.pk/the-west-asia-approach-of-india-and-its-relations-with-middle-east/103010 | title=The West Asia Approach of India and its relations with Middle East | date=22 December 2015 }}</ref> is working successfully and its relations with the Middle East are improving since Modi came in power. The "West Asia Approach" of India is now its key strategy to win the Middle East. Indian foreign policy makers say that India's interests in the [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC countries]] are intimately linked with its energy security, trade, employment for Indians and remittances while Middle Eastern foreign policy experts believe that India has showcased itself as "Security Partner" during Modi's visit to UAE. Given the economic and human security interests, the stability and security of the GCC countries is crucial for India because a huge flow of remittances comes from GCC to the Indian economy.<ref>{{citation |title=India suffers steep decline in remittances from GCC nations |url=http://m.thenational.ae/business/economy/india-suffers-steep-decline-in-remittances-from-gcc-nations |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |date=23 May 2016}}</ref>
===Stand against ISIS===
On 16 December 2014, Home Minister [[Rajnath Singh]] announced in the Parliament that [[ISIS]] is banned as a terrorist organization under the United Nations schedule.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-government-bans-islamic-state-terror-organisation/article6698369.ece|title=India bans IS|agency=Press Trust of India|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><!--public announcement says "we have banned"--> Following the arrest of few Indian individuals with ISIS connections, on 26 February 2015, India put fresh bans on 'The Islamic States/Islamic States of Iraq and Syria/Islamic States of Iraq and Levant' with all its manifestation and all its affiliates under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-bans-ISIS-under-UAPA/articleshow/46382427.cms|title=India bans ISIS under UAPA|publisher=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]/[[The Times of India]]|date=26 February 2015|access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/terror-group-isis-to-be-banned-in-india-739417|title=Terror Group ISIS to be Banned in India|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=13 February 2015|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref>
===2014 Israel-Hamas conflict===
At the height of the [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict|tension between Israel and Hamas]] in July, India offered a rhetorical condemnation holding both sides responsible for erupting violence and asked Israel to stop "disproportionate use of force" in Gaza which was read by many{{who|date=May 2017}} as departure from tradition of more vocal supports for the Palestinian cause. External Affairs Minister Swaraj insisted that "there is absolutely no change in India's policy towards Palestine, which is that we fully support the Palestinian cause while maintaining good relations with Israel. " clarifying India's current position on the issue.
Sushma Swaraj, a seasoned parliamentarian, had herself blocked the opposition demand in [[Rajya Sabha]] for passing a resolution condemning Israel for [[2014 Israel-Gaza conflict]] by saying that "India has friendly relation with both Israel and Palestine and therefore any such move may impact its friendship negatively".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/modi-govts-dilemma-over-israel-palestine-conflict/20140716.htm|title=Modi govt's dilemma over Israel-Palestine conflict|publisher=[[Rediff]]|date=16 July 2014|access-date=16 September 2014}}</ref> Although later in a symbolic gesture, India joined other BRICS nations in voting at the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] for a probe into the alleged human rights violation in Gaza which generated mixed response among media and analysts in India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-crisis-modi-govts-unhrc-vote-against-israel-must-be-lauded-1633149.html|title=Gaza crisis: Modi govt's UNHRC vote against Israel must be lauded|work=Firstpost|date=25 July 2014|access-date=16 September 2014}}</ref>
===Overseas Indian crisis===
;Iraq
{{Further|Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)|Northern Iraq offensive (August 2014)}}
With the rise of [[ISIS]] in northern Iraq, where hundreds of thousands of Indian migrant workers live, the security of those overseas Indians came under threat. On 16 June, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) set up a 24-hour helpline at the Indian embassy in [[Baghdad]] for the assistance of Indian nationals stranded in the conflict cities. It has been reported that 46 Indian nurses were abducted from the Iraqi town of Mosul<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/india-condemns-attacks-and-seizure-in-northern-iraq-by-terrorists/ |title=India condemns attacks and Seizure in Northern Iraq by terrorists |publisher=Bihar Prabha |date=17 June 2014 |access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref> who were later freed and flown back to India.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-28173993 |access-date=6 August 2014 |date=5 July 2014 |title=Indian nurses freed in Iraq given rapturous home welcome |work=[[BBC News]] }}</ref> Moreover, 39 Indian workers mainly from [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] were taken hostages and the fate of those workers still not known. There were widespread speculations about their lives and on 27 November 2014 ''[[ABP News]]'' reported, citing Bangladeshi migrant co-workers, death of all the 39 men. Although the following day, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Swaraj made a statement to the [[Parliament of India|parliament]] neither rejecting nor confirming such possibility and re-assured the nation about MEA's commitment for continuing search for the Indians in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/govt-sources-say-indians-kidnapped-by-isis-in-iraq-still-alive-efforts-on-to-trace-them-sushma-swaraj/|title=Govt believes 39 Indians held hostage by ISIS in Iraq still alive|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=28 November 2014|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/39-indians-kidnapped-by-isis-in-iraq-are-alive-foreign-affairs-minister-sushma-swaraj-2863311/|title=39 Indians kidnapped by ISIS in Iraq are alive: Sushma Swaraj|date=19 June 2016|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>
;Libya
{{Further|2014 Libyan conflict}}
A similar situation occurred in Libya where many Indian nationals are stranded because of the armed conflict that broke in [[Benghazi]] and other parts of the country. Swaraj informed the parliament that her ministry was evaluating all possibilities to secure the safe evacuation of all Indians stranded in both Iraq and Libya.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-government-to-ensure-safe-return-of-indians-from-iraq-says-sushma-swaraj-2007861|title=Government to ensure safe return of Indians from Iraq, says Sushma Swaraj |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=4 August 2014|access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref> A chartered flight from [[Djerba]], Tunisia brought over 200 nationals back to India. A further 216 nationals left on 8 August, with a total of another 1,500 nationals having been evacuated. About 3,000 more nationals registered with the embassy in Tripoli to return.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/200-more-Indians-evacuated-from-Libya/articleshow/39848755.cms |title=200 more Indians evacuated from Libya |work=The Times of India |date=8 August 2014 |access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref> On 5 August 44 nurses returned to India on a special [[Air India]] flight; they were predominantly from Kerala with some from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mahim Pratap Singh |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-nurses-back-from-libya-thank-government/article6299247.ece |title=Nurses thank Indian Mission in Libya, MEA |work=The Hindu |date=9 August 2014 |access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref> A further three Goans were reported to be safe in Libya with full employment and had not requested repatriation. Goa's Director of NRI Affairs U. D. Kamat said that it was ascertaining whether there were Goan workers in the country.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Goans-in-Libya-are-Safe-NRI-Commissionerate/2014/08/12/article2376098.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814220334/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Goans-in-Libya-are-Safe-NRI-Commissionerate/2014/08/12/article2376098.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 August 2014 |title=Goans in Libya are Safe: NRI Commissionerate |work=The New Indian Express |date=28 May 2014 |access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref>
;Yemen
{{Main|Operation Raahat (India)}}
After the outbreak of aerial attacks by the Saudi led coalition following the coup by the [[Houthis|Houthi rebels]] in Yemen, Government of India launched a massive rescue operation called ''[[Operation Raahat]]'' (meaning: Relief) to save hundreds of non-residential Indians located there.<ref name=onein2015>{{cite web | title=India evacuates 4,640 nationals, 960 others from Yemen | website=oneindia.com | date=10 April 2015 | url=http://www.oneindia.com/india/india-evacuates-4640-nationals-960-others-from-yemen-1711703.html | access-date=11 April 2015}}</ref> Minister of State for External Affairs General [[V. K. Singh|V K Singh]] himself oversaw the entire rescue operation right from the battle ground towns of [[Sana'a]] and [[Aden]] in Yemen and the Indian base of operation in [[Djibouti]]. In the process, the [[Indian Navy]] deployed its front line ships such as {{INS|Mumbai||6}}, [[INS Sumitra]] and others while the Indian Air Force too deployed its [[C-17 Globemaster]] tactical airlifter to airlift the stranded Indians and the national carrier [[Air India]] also took an active part by ferrying passengers.<ref name=hindu-evac>{{cite news|title=India begins evacuating citizens|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-begins-evacuating-citizens/article7054994.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 March 2015|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> The operation was highly successful and received huge acclamation from across the globe as it rescued not only Indians but thousands of foreigners stranded in the war torn country too.<ref name="Firstposta2015">{{cite web | title=1000 nationals from 41 countries: India's Yemen evacuation finally ends and the world is floored | website=Firstpost | date=10 April 2015 | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/1000-nationals-41-countries-indias-yemen-evacuation-finally-ends-world-floored-2192271.html | access-date=11 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="The Times2015">{{cite web | title=India appreciates Pakistan's gesture of evacuating its nationals from Yemen | website=The Times of India | date=8 April 2015 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-appreciates-Pakistans-gesture-of-evacuating-its-nationals-from-Yemen/articleshow/46852396.cms | access-date=8 April 2015}}</ref>
==Relations with North and South America==
===United States===
[[File:President Trump's Trip to Germany and the G20 Summit (35741357046).jpg|thumb|U.S. President [[Donald Trump|Trump]] with Modi at the [[2017 G20 Hamburg summit|G20 Hamburg summit]] in July 2017.]]
[[File:P20230909AS-0040 (53234993598).jpg|thumb|U.S. President [[Joe Biden|Biden]] with Modi at the [[2023 G20 New Delhi summit|G20 New Delhi summit]] in September 2023.]]
During the run-up to the general election there was wide-ranging scepticism regarding future of the [[India-USA relations|strategic bilateral relation]] under Modi's premiership as in 2005 he was, while [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]], denied a U.S. visa<ref>{{cite news|title=No entry for Modi into US: visa denied|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-entry-for-Modi-into-US-visa-denied/articleshow/1055543.cms|work=The Times of India|date=18 March 2005|access-date=15 August 2014}}</ref> during the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] for his alleged [[2002 Gujarat riots|poor]] human rights records.<ref name=WSJ-visa>{{cite news|last1=Mann|first1=James|title=Why Narendra Modi Was Banned From the U.S.|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303380004579520041301275638?mg=reno64-wsj|access-date=22 September 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=2 May 2014}}</ref> However, in the run-up to the 2014 election, which polling suggested Modi's BJP was favored to win, [[United States Ambassador to India|US Ambassador]] [[Nancy Powell]] and other Western diplomats began outreach to Modi. Following his election as the Prime Minister of India, [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Obama]] congratulated him over the telephone and invited him to visit the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/16/readout-president-s-call-prime-ministerial-candidate-narendra-modi-india|title=Readout of the President's Call with Prime Ministerial Candidate Narendra Modi of India|date=16 May 2014|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=14 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="newyorker-may14">{{cite news|last=Cassidy|first=John|title=What Does Modi's Victory Mean for the World?|url=https://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2014/05/narendra-modi-india-prime-minister-victory.html|access-date=21 May 2014|newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]|date=16 May 2014}}</ref> U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] visited New Delhi on 1 August to prepare the grounds for Modi's first-ever US visit as prime minister. In September 2014, days before visiting the US in an interview to [[CNN]]’s [[Fareed Zakaria]], Modi said that "India and the United States are bound together, by history and culture" but acknowledged that there have been "ups and downs" in relations.<ref name=CNN-fareed>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2014/09/21/what-does-modis-cnn-interview-say-about-indias-relationship-with-the-u-s/|title=What Does Modi's CNN Interview Say About India's Relationship With the U.S.?|access-date=22 September 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=21 September 2014}}</ref> Modi travelled to US from 27 to 30 September 2014,<ref name=hectic>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/narendra-modi-has-hectic-schedule-lined-up-for-maiden-us-trip/articleshow/42122631.cms|title= Narendra Mosi has hectic schedule lined up for maiden US trip |publisher=[[The Economic Times]]|date=11 September 2014|access-date=11 September 2014}}</ref> beginning with his maiden address in the [[sixty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly|United Nations general assembly]] followed by attending a gala public reception by the Indian American community in New York's [[Madison Square Garden]] before heading Washington, D.C. for the bilateral talk with Obama. While there, Modi also met several American business leaders and invited them to join his ambitious [[Make in India]] program in a bid to make India a manufacturing hub.<ref name=gmodi>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/28/narendra-modi-india-new-york-prime-minister|title=US turns on charm as Narendra Modi roadshow rolls into New York|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=28 September 2014|newspaper= The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=nytmodi>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/world/asia/narendra-modi-madison-square-garden-united-states-indian-diaspora.html|title=Indian Leader Narendra Modi, Once Unwelcome in U.S., Gets Rock Star Reception|last=Sinha|first=Shreeya|date=27 September 2014|newspaper= The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/indias-modi-begins-rock-star-like-us-tour/2014/09/26/eeabe78b-9327-4643-a131-33ab5c59174a_story.html|title=India's Modi begins rock star-like U.S. tour|last=Gowen|first=Annie|date=26 September 2014|newspaper= The Washington Post}}</ref> Later President Obama greeted Modi by calling him a "Man of Action" during their brief interaction at the Gala dinner hosted by Myanmar's president on the eve of [[Ninth East Asia Summit|ninth]] [[East Asia Summit]] this was their second meeting since Obama hosted a rare dinner for Modi at the White House on 29 September 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/barack-obama-meets-prime-minister-narendra-modi-calls-him-a-man-of-action/articleshow/45126409.cms|title=Barack Obama meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi; calls him a 'man of action'|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=12 November 2014|access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref> On 9 December 2014 [[US Senate]] confirmed [[Richard Verma|Richard Rahul Verma]] as the US Ambassador to India, the first Indian American to hold the office, signalling the Obama administration's will to elevate the relation with India to a newer height. He assumed office in the US Embassy in New Delhi on 19 December 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rich-verma-confirmed-as-us-ambassador-to-india/article1-1294981.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210045223/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rich-verma-confirmed-as-us-ambassador-to-india/article1-1294981.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2014|title=Rich Verma confirmed as US ambassador to India|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=10 December 2014|access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>
Modi invited President Obama to be the first US president to grace the [[Republic Day of India|66th Republic Day]] celebration as [[List of state visits to India#Republic day parade guests|Chief guest]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/republic-day-pm-modis-decision-to-invite-obama-aimed-at-sending-a-strong-message-to-china/articleshow/45243213.cms|title=Republic Day: PM Modi's decision to invite Obama aimed at sending a strong message to China |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=23 November 2014|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref> an honour typically reserved for India's closest ally. President Obama was the first US president to visit India twice in office and the two leaders now scheduled to hold back to back summits within six months which is being referred as Modi's diplomatic coup by the media.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/11/modis-diplomatic-chutzpah/|title=Modi's Diplomatic Chutzpah|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=26 November 2014|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref> "This Republic Day, we hope to have a friend over… invited President Obama to be the 1st US president to grace the occasion as chief guest."- Modi tweeted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/letterfromwashington/it-took-a-modi-to-finally-invite-a-us-president-for-republic-day/|title=It took a Modi to finally invite a US president for Republic Day|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=26 November 2014|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref>
On 26 June 2017, Modi met with U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] in Washington, DC where they discussed trade, specifically airplanes and natural gas, and terrorism.<ref>Office of the Press Secretary. [https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2017/06/26/remarks-president-trump-and-prime-minister-modi-india-joint-press Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi of India in Joint Press Statement], The White House, Washington, DC, 26 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=George |first=Steve |date=27 June 2017 |title=Trump and Modi reaffirm Indian-US relations with a hug |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/politics/modi-trump-india-us/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |location=[[Atlanta]], Georgia |access-date=27 June 2017 |quote=The first face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sealed with a bear hug Monday, as the two leaders looked to publicly underscore their newfound friendship.}}</ref> During the Trump administration, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive global strategic partnership. The two sides share the same position on combating "[[radical Islamic terrorism]]" and promoting a [[Free and Open Indo-Pacific]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Menon |first=Shivshankar |date=2020-08-11 |title=How Trump and Modi Refashioned the Relationship Between America and India |language=en-US |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-08-11/modi-india-league-nationalists |access-date=2023-03-20 |issn=0015-7120}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=More ups than downs, and many surprise turns in Trump's foreign policy for India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/more-ups-than-downs-and-many-surprise-turns-in-trumps-foreign-policy-for-india/article32998659.ece |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=The Hindu|date=November 2020 |last1=Haidar |first1=Suhasini }}</ref>
===Brazil===
Narendra Modi met the [[Brazilian President]], [[Dilma Rousseff]] on the sidelines of the [[6th BRICS summit]] in [[Brasília]], Brazil, in July 2014. Describing Brazil as a key global partner for India, Modi noted that as two democracies and major emerging economies, India and Brazil not only had vast potential for bilateral cooperation, but also to strengthen each other in international forums and advance the interest of the developing world at large. President Rousseff emphasized the special place this relationship enjoyed in Brazil's foreign policy, because of the potential for bilateral cooperation and the international significance of their partnership. She congratulated Narendra Modi for his victory in the elections and wished him all success for India's progress and development. The two leaders also agreed to take steps to further expand and diversify trade and investment flows and deepen cooperation in agriculture and dairy science, conventional and renewable energy, space research and applications, defence, [[Computer security|cyber security]] and environment conservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/prime-minister-modi-meets-brazilian-president-dilma-rousseff-155147462.html|title=Prime Minister Modi meets Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff|date=16 July 2014|work=Yahoo News India|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref>
More recently, in January 2020, Brazilian President [[Jair Bolsonaro]] made his first official visit to Modi's India. Considered as a particularly warm welcome by the visiting delegation — therefore kept in high regard since then —, the reception helped Bolsonaro's chancellery gain some traction overseas, overcoming a persisting trend of Brazilian international isolation started with the [[2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires]]. Later in the same year, in the context of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], both governments launched cooperation programs aimed at addressing the ongoing health and sanitary crisis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-bolsonaro-to-begin-four-day-visit-to-india-from-friday/article30615613.ece|title=President Jair Bolsonaro will begin four-day visit to India from Friday|date=21 January 2020|work=The Hindu Newspaper|access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://br.reuters.com/article/idBRKBN21M0NG-OBRDN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410050506/https://br.reuters.com/article/idBRKBN21M0NG-OBRDN|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 April 2020|title=Bolsonaro asks for India's support in input supplies for hydroxychloroquine (in Portuguese)|date=4 April 2020|work=Agência Reuters Brasil|access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref>
===Canada===
In April 2015 Modi visited Canada and was the first bilateral visit to that country by an [[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]] in 42 years. India made a nuclear deal with the Canada's biggest producer of uranium, [[Cameco]], signed a $280&nbsp;million, five-year deal to supply uranium to fuel Indian nuclear reactors. The long-term deal announced later that Cameco will sell 7.1&nbsp;million pounds of uranium to India, through 2020.<ref name="livemint">{{cite news|title=10 takeaways from Narendra Modi's trip to France, Germany and Canada|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Rpfdeth2dn2gPrptUJZhFO/10-takeaways-from-Narendra-Modis-trip-to-France-Germany-an.html|access-date=22 April 2015|publisher=livemint|date=17 April 2015}}</ref>
Modi held bilateral talks with Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]], and signed various [[Memorandum of understanding|MoUs]] like in areas of cybersecurity, skill development, cooperation in the railways and civil aviation front.<ref name="livemint"/>
Modi received "rockstar" reception in Canada where he addressed a crowd of over 10,000 at the [[Coca-Cola Coliseum|Ricoh Coliseum]] Stage in [[Toronto]].<ref name="livemint"/><ref>{{cite news|title=10,000 Indo-Canadians throng Narendra Modi's 'rockstar' show|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/10000-indocanadians-throng-narendra-modis-rockstar-show/540144-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418161236/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/10000-indocanadians-throng-narendra-modis-rockstar-show/540144-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2015|access-date=22 April 2015|publisher=CNN-IBN|date=16 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Rockstar reception' awaits Modi in Toronto|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rockstar-reception-awaits-modi-in-toronto/article7106594.ece|access-date=22 April 2015|newspaper=The Hindu|date=16 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Canada's Indian community to give rock star welcome to Modi|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/canada-s-indian-community-to-give-rock-star-welcome-to-modi-115041500187_1.html|access-date=22 April 2015|newspaper=Business Standard|date=15 April 2015}}</ref>
On September 18, 2023, Canadian prime minister [[Justin Trudeau]] stated that Canadian intelligence has identified a credible link between the murder of Sikh separatist [[Hardeep Singh Nijjar]] and the Indian government, calling on India to cooperate with Canada in investigating the murder.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yousif |first1=Nadine |title=India could be behind killing of Canadian Sikh - Trudeau |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66848041 |access-date=18 September 2023 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=18 September 2023}}</ref> In response to the alleged killing, the Canadian foreign minister [[Mélanie Joly]] ordered the expulsion of a top Indian diplomat in Canada, who headed the operations of the [[Research and Analysis Wing]], India's external intelligence agency, in Canada.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tasker |first=John Paul |date=18 September 2023 |title=Trudeau accuses India's government of involvement in killing of Canadian Sikh leader |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-indian-government-nijjar-1.6970498}}</ref>
==Relations with European Nations==
{{See also|India–European Union relations}}
===France===
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting with the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, in Rome, Italy on October 30, 2021 (2).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Narendra Modi with French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] on [[2021 G20 Rome summit]] in [[Rome]], Italy 30 October 2021]]
France is a valuable strategic partner of India in western Europe. Both countries have invested political capital to deepen collaboration in the cultural, economic, social, technological and military realms. Modi met French President [[Francois Hollande]] at the 2014 G-20 Summit in Brisbane, and discussed bilateral strategic, space and defence issues besides committing to global cooperation against terrorism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-meets-french-president-francois-hollande-calls-for-common-fight-against-terror-697514|title=PM Narendra Modi Meets French President Francois Hollande, Calls For Common Fight Against Terror|publisher=[[NDTV]]/[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]|date=15 November 2014|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> Following the January 2015 ''[[Charlie Hebdo shooting|Charlie Hebdo]]'' terror attack in Paris, Modi condemned the act of terror and called Hollande to convey condolences on behalf of the people of India as well as express solidarity with the people of France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/NXXrNTEWZRO0mFHjwI8JtM/Modi-calls-Hollande-condemns-Charlie-Hebdo-attack.html|title=Modi calls Hollande, condemns 'Charlie Hebdo' attack|publisher=[[Live Mint]]|date=10 January 2015|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
French foreign minister Laurent Fabius made several visits to New Delhi to unlock stalled negotiations regarding [[Dassault Rafale]] fighter aircraft for [[Indian Air Force]] and the 9900 MW [[Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project|nuclear power plant in Jaitapur]] by the French firm [[Areva]].<ref name="Jaitapur n-reactors flagged off but liability concerns remain">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Jaitapur-n-reactors-flagged-off-but-liability-concerns-remain/721283|title=Jaitapur n-reactors flagged off but liability concerns remain|last=Roy|first=Shubhajit |date=7 December 2010|work=The Indian Express|access-date=18 December 2010|location=New Delhi}}</ref>
In April 2015, Modi choose Paris as his first destination in Europe as part of his ''Link West'' outreach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-to-visit-france-in-april-invites-french-companies-737310|title=PM Narendra Modi to Visit France in April, Invites French Companies|publisher=[[NDTV]]/[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]|date=5 February 2015|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> Modi's visit resulted in a government-to-government deal for 36 [[Dassault Rafale]] fighter aircraft in fly-away condition. India and France signed an initial agreement between [[Nuclear Power Corporation of India]] and [[Areva]] regarding the setting up of Jaitapur nuclear power plant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/scripting-a-west-side-story-modis-visits-to-france-germany-and-canada-adapt-lessons-learnt-from-chinas-economic-miracle/|title=Scripting a west side story: Modi's visits to France, Germany and Canada adapt lessons learnt from China's economic miracle|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=20 April 2015|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref> Modi toured the aircraft assembly facilities of [[Dassault Aviation]] in [[Bordeaux]] and [[Airbus]] in [[Toulouse]] where he promoted the ''[[Make in India]]'' campaign by urging the aerospace giants to cultivate manufacturing opportunities in India (Airbus committed to increase its outsourcing from India from the current level of US$400&nbsp;million to US$2&nbsp;billion by 2020). Modi travelled to [[Lille]] in the north of France to pay hommage at [[Neuve-Chapelle Indian Memorial]] dedicated to the remembrance of 4742 soldiers of the [[Indian Army (1895–1947)|British Indian Army]] who died during World War I & II.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-s-make-in-india-dream-takes-off-with-airbus/article1-1336207.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412093907/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-s-make-in-india-dream-takes-off-with-airbus/article1-1336207.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2015|title=Modi in France: Prime Minister visits Airbus facility, pays homage to Indian soldiers|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=11 April 2015|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref>
On 30 November 2015, Indian Prime-Minister Narendra Modi travelled to France for a 2-day visit to attend the ''COP 21'' [[2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference]] in Paris.<ref>{{cite news|title=Modi set to travel 60,000 km in 30 days|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modi-set-to-travel-60000-km-in-30-days/article7766970.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=16 October 2015}}</ref> Narendra Modi and François Hollande jointly invited over 100 world leaders to join ''InSPA'' (International Agency for Solar Policy & Application) – a global initiative to promote low-carbon renewable solar energy technologies.<ref>{{cite news|title=France supports India's global solar alliance|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/france-supports-indias-global-solar-alliance/article7900712.ece|newspaper=Business Line|date=20 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Paris climate meet: India-led global solar alliance to counter developed nations|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/paris-climate-meet-indialed-global-solar-alliance-to-counter-developed-nations/article7916353.ece|newspaper=Business Line|date=25 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Narendra Modi, Francois Hollande invite over 100 countries for solar alliance|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/narendra-modi-francois-hollande-invite-over-100-countries-for-solar-alliance/articleshow/49925633.cms|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=25 November 2015}}</ref>
When the Climate Change Treaty itself was under threat with President Trump announcing the withdrawal of USA -one of the major polluters as such, USA did become a part of the International Solar Alliance and lauded the efforts of the Indian leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thekootneeti.in/2018/03/24/int-solar-alliance-india/|title=International Solar Alliance: India's Expanding Diplomacy|date=23 March 2018|website=The Kootneeti|access-date=25 August 2019}}</ref>
India invited French President Francois Hollande to be the chief guest at the [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day parade]] in New Delhi on 26 January 2016. The invitation was conveyed through the visiting French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, making France the only country to be invited a record setting [[List of state visits to India#Republic day parade guests|5 times]] to the highly symbolic national ceremonial event.<ref>{{cite news|title=French President Hollande invited as Republic Day guest|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/french-president-hollande-to-be-chief-guest-at-republic-day-celebrations-next-year/|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=22 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hollande to be Republic Day chief guest|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/513294/hollande-republic-day-chief-guest.html|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=21 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Francois Hollande to be Chief Guest at 2016 Republic Day celebrations|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/francois-hollande-to-be-the-chief-guest-at-2016-republic-day-celebrations/article7903666.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=21 November 2015}}</ref>
===United Kingdom===
[[File:PM Modi shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.jpg|thumb|Modi shaking hands with The Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2015]]
UK Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Modi soon after his landslide victory in the [[2014 Indian general election|election]]. The two leaders met for the first time on 14 November 2014 on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in [[Brisbane]], where the British Prime Minister said improving relations with India was the "top priority" of UK foreign policy. He also invited Modi to visit his country at the earliest.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/relations-with-india-top-priority-david-cameron-to-narendra-modi/articleshow/45150377.cms|title=Relations with India top priority: David Cameron to Narendra Modi|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=14 November 2014|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref>
Earlier Deputy Prime Minister [[Nick Clegg]] attributed the growth story of South Asia, which was going to grow fastest in 2014–15 outside the East Asia region, to the election of Prime Minister Modi and his recent efforts to turn around the economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/uk-deputy-pm-nick-clegg-attributes-south-asias-growth-to-modi-dividend/articleshow/45120370.cms|title=UK Deputy PM Nick Clegg attributes South Asia's growth to "Modi dividend"|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=12 November 2014|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref> UK hailed Modi's [[Make in India]] policy and is all set to invest in Rajasthan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/uk-hails-make-in-india-campaign-plans-investment-in-rajasthan/articleshow/45127676.cms|title=UK hails Make in India camp|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=12 November 2014|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref>
Modi paid a state visit to the UK in late 2015, meeting [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] and prime minister David Cameron. On 13 November 2015 Modi addressed a rally at the new [[Wembley Stadium]] at [[Wembley Park]], north-west London. 60,000 people, mostly [[British Indian]]s, attended.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34806511|title=Modi visit: UK and India's 'special relationship' hailed|work=BBC News|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref>
===Germany===
In April 2015 Modi visited Germany where he held bilateral talks with [[Chancellor of Germany|German Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]]. Modi also inaugurated [[Hannover Messe|Hannover Fair 2015]]-world's largest industrial fair,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Modi set to inaugurate world's largest industrial fair in Germany|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi-germany-hannover-messe-fair-chancellor-angela-merkel/1/429728.html|access-date=22 April 2015|magazine=India Today|date=12 April 2015}}</ref> where India was the partner country.<ref>{{cite news|title=With Make in India on mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opens Hannover fair|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-04-13/news/61103173_1_hannover-fair-prime-minister-narendra-modi-angela-merkel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416172534/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-04-13/news/61103173_1_hannover-fair-prime-minister-narendra-modi-angela-merkel|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2015|access-date=22 April 2015|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=13 April 2015}}</ref>
Modi made the strongest pitch for the [[Make in India]] initiative in Hannover fair. He said, "The entire world is looking at India. Demography, democracy and demand are attracting the world to India."<ref name="livemint"/>
There were announcements of strengthened cooperation in sectors like energy, skill development, science & technology, and the Modi government's initiatives like [[Digital India]] and [[Swachh Bharat Abhiyan|Clean India]].<ref name="livemint"/>
==Relations with Eurasia==
===Russia===
[[File:Putin and Modi in New Delhi in 2014.jpeg|thumb|270px|Modi and Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] shake hands in New Delhi in 2014]]
Russia, India's long-term strategic partner for more than half a century, enjoys a degree of special and privileged cooperation unparalleled in India's foreign relations. But over the years especially after their end of the cold war, the relation experienced strain as India started diversifying its defence purchases from a totally Soviet-dominated one. But with Putin and Modi, both with [[Strongman (politics)|strongman]] image at their home country, at the helm of affairs in their respective foreign policy, it is expected to get a push.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/for-a-warmer-russian-bear-hug/article6676864.ece?homepage=true|title=For a warmer Russian bear hug|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=10 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-russia-here-and-now/99/|title=India, Russia, here and now|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=9 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> During the 20th 'India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation' (IRIGC-TEC) held on 5 November 2014 in New Delhi Modi met the Russian deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and had reassured the visiting side that the new dispensation in New Delhi will continue to attach very high importance to the time-tested and special strategic partnership with Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-attaches-high-importance-to-ties-with-russia-pm-narendra-modi/articleshow/45047950.cms|title=India attaches high importance to ties with Russia: PM Narendra Modi|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=5 November 2014|access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> The annual commission meeting had identified new areas of cooperation including prioritising the International North-South Corridor Project (INSTC), start negotiating on a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian customs union, focusing on enhancing economic partnership in areas like energy, civil aviation and diamond trade along with Russian participation in Modi's smart city project.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-and-russia-to-give-shape-to-joint-economic-vision-package/articleshow/45049613.cms|title=India and Russia to give shape to joint 'economic vision' package|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date= 5 November 2014|access-date= 4 November 2014}}</ref> Earlier on his first meeting with Putin, emphasising Russia's indispensable position in India's foreign policy Modi went on to say that even a child in India considers Russia as its ''best friend''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-vladimir-putin-russia-friendship-brazil-brics-summit/1/372606.html|title=Narendra Modi Vladimir Putin Russia friendship Brazil BRICS summit |magazine=[[India Today]]|date=15 July 2014|access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref> This meeting in Brazil at the sidelines of BRICS summit served well as the familiarisation between the two leaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pm-narendra-modi-meets-vladimir-putin-says-india-wants-to-deepen-ties-with-russia_947781.html|title=PM Narendra Modi meets Vladimir Putin says India wants to deepen ties with Russia|publisher=[[Zee News]]|date=15 July 2014|access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref>
President Putin visited New Delhi on 11 December 2014 for the annual summit, first after Modi assumed office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/india-visit-productive-and-positive-vladimir-putin_1513812.html|title=India visit productive and positive: Vladimir Putin|publisher=[[Zee News]]|date=12 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2014/11/putins-upcoming-visit-crucial-for-india/|title=Putin's Upcoming Visit Crucial For India|publisher=InSerbia News|date=29 November 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> Trade and energy cooperation dominated the talks as they set a target of US$30&nbsp;billion of bilateral trade by 2025 with an equal amount of investment in each other's economy. On the backdrop of [[international sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War]], Putin earlier signed a gas deal with China worth US$400&nbsp;billion believed to be heavily tilted in China's favour. India too was keen to strike an energy agreement on line of above.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-27/putin-to-deepen-india-energy-ties-as-modi-seeks-china-treatment.html|title=Putin Eyes India Energy Deals as Modi Seeks China Treatment|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]|date=28 November 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> During the summit, both sides agreed for a joint feasibility study of building a gas pipeline through China.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/vladimir-putins-productive-india-visit/|title=Vladimir Putin's Productive India Visit|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=12 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> The two sides signed a total of 16 agreements and memorandum of understanding on various fields. Agreements on long term oil and gas cooperation have been signed between [[ONGC Videsh]] and [[Essar Oil]] of India and Russia's [[Rosneft]], [[Gasprom]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/putin-for-reversing-decline-in-bilateral-trade-with-india/articleshow/45441910.cms|title=Putin for reversing decline in bilateral trade with India|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=10 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> Putin also vowed to install 10 more nuclear reactors in next 20 years including adding more units to [[Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant|Kudankulam plant]]. Another burgeoning aspect in bilateral relations emerged in the form of Diamond trading, While Russia is the largest producer of raw diamond, India is the global hub of cutting and polishing raw diamonds. Russia has agreed to export raw diamonds to India directly bypassing mediators like Dubai and Belgium. On this occasion, the two leaders also attended a ''World Diamond Conference'' held in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rbth.com/blogs/2014/12/13/taming_the_babus_biggest_challenge_for_modi_and_putin_40327|title=Taming the Babus: biggest challenge for Modi and Putin|newspaper=[[Russia Beyond the Headlines]]|date=13 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> The Crimean leader [[Sergey Aksyonov]], who accompanied Putin in New Delhi, met several business delegations to discuss the opportunity in the Black sea region although it was termed as unofficial. This has once again raised concerns in Washington, D.C. regarding India's stand on Crimea.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/us-troubled-by-crimean-leaders-india-visit/|title=US 'Troubled' By Crimean Leader's India Visit|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=3 December 2014|access-date=13 December 2014}}</ref>
====Defence ties====
In the summit, Modi mentioned his experience with the Russian built carrier [[INS Vikramaditya]] as an example of burgeoning military cooperation and remarked that "even though India's options have increased, Russia will continue to remain its topmost defence partner" signalling a long term defence relation. The two sides agreed on joint production of [[Mil Mi-17]] and [[Kamov Ka-226]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/russia-open-for-equal-work-share-on-fgfa/article6712985.ece?widget-art=four-rel|title=India-Russia talks on to finalise copter deal|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=22 December 2014|access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> helicopters with Russian technology in India in compliance with Modi's ''Make in India'' program and also fast forwarding the long pending major projects like the joint development and production of [[Il-214|light transport aircraft]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/russia-expresses-interest-in-aircraft-production-in-india/articleshow/45308203.cms|title= Russia expresses interest in aircraft production in India|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=28 November 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> The final design contract of fifth generation joint fighter platform [[Sukhoi FGFA|Sukhoi-HAL FGFA]] is expected to be signed soon as it already lagging by more than 2 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rbth.com/economics/2014/12/03/major_defence_deals_set_to_be_signed_during_putin-modi_summit_40089|title=Major defence deals set to be signed during Putin-Modi summit|newspaper=[[Russia Beyond the Headlines]]|date=3 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> India is set to lease a second nuclear powered [[Akula-class submarine]] from Russia after [[INS Chakra (2011)]] which is already in service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-to-lease-another-nuclear-submarine-from-russia/articleshow/45544830.cms|title=India to lease another nuclear submarine from Russia|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=17 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> Weeks before Putin's visit news of Russian Defence Minister [[Sergei Shoigu]]'s Pakistan visit on 20 November 2014, first such visit in more than 40 years, when the two sides inked a defence cooperation pact. Media reports suggested that Russia was mulling a possible sale of [[Mil Mi-35|Mi 35]] attack copter, the first ever combat platform, to India's arch rival Pakistan.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/new-era-in-russia-pakistan-relations/|title=New Era in Russia-Pakistan Relations?|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=3 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> These developments have raised concerns in the Indian strategic community as some see this as a counter move to growing Indo-US defence collaboration. Although the official response was much restrained as they termed it 'significant'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/russian-defence-ministers-visit-to-pakistan-significant-india/articleshow/45364640.cms|title=Russian Defence Minister's visit to Pakistan 'significant': India|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> Such apprehensions in India about Russia's strategic goals in the region was by the Russian Ambassador Kaladin as he said that it will not do anything detrimental to India's security.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/will-never-do-anything-detrimental-to-indias-security-russia/articleshow/45412363.cms|title=Will never do anything detrimental to India's security: Russia|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=8 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> Later Putin himself in an interview with India's ''[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]'' news agency said that 'Russia-Pakistan ties in India's long-term interest'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/russiapakistan-ties-in-indias-longterm-interest-putin/article6677459.ece|title=Russia-Pakistan ties in India's long-term interest: Putin|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=10 December 2014|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref>
==Relations with Africa==
===India-Africa Forum Summit===
{{Main|India-Africa Forum Summit}}
The third summit in a rotation basis was scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India in December 2014. But lately, [[Syed Akbaruddin]], the official spokesperson of [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Indian Foreign Ministry]] told the media that the scheduled summit is now postponed to 2015 and will include more no. of African leaders, unlike previous two occasions where the event was restricted to only 10–15 African countries. Although media reports claimed that the [[Ebola]] outbreak in Western African nations played a key role behind the postponement of the summit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Ebola-Scare-Pushes-India-Africa-Summit-to-2015/2014/09/21/article2441381.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927042144/http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Ebola-Scare-Pushes-India-Africa-Summit-to-2015/2014/09/21/article2441381.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2014|title=Ebola Scare Pushes India-Africa Summit to 2015|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=21 September 2014|access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> The summit is now rescheduled on 26–30 October 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Biggest-diplomatic-event-India-Africa-summit-from-October-26/articleshow/46691914.cms|title=Biggest diplomatic event: India-Africa summit from October 26|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 March 2015 }}</ref>
===Mauritius===
[[Mauritius]] was the only country outside South Asia whose head of government attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony in Delhi. With [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|people of Indian origin]] constituting a large share of its population Mauritius has very good bilateral relations with New Delhi. Swaraj made her maiden trip as foreign minister to the island country on 2 November 2014 to attend the celebration of Apravasi Divas, marking 180 years since the first Indian indentured labourers arrived in Mauritius. There she had called on President [[Rajkeswur Purryag]] and Prime Minister [[Navinchandra Ramgoolam]] to discuss bilateral and regional issues of common interest.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics%20and%20nation/Sushma-Swaraj-hails-India-Mauritius-friendship/articleshow/45012519.cms|title=Sushma Swaraj hails India-Mauritius friendship|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date= 3 November 2014|access-date= 4 November 2014}}</ref> On top of her agenda was talk on cooperation between the [[Indian Navy]] and Mauritian Coast Guard to ensure the safety and security of the strategically vital Indian Ocean region. In support of her stress on the importance of maritime cooperation three major [[List of active Indian Navy ships|Indian war ships]] were docked in Mauritian waters including a destroyer {{INS|Mumbai||6}}, a frigate {{INS|Talwar|F40|6}} and the fleet tanker {{INS|Deepak||6}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-to-cooperate-with-mauritius-to-safeguard-indian-ocean/articleshow/45015810.cms|title=India to cooperate with Mauritius to safeguard Indian Ocean|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=2 November 2014|access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref>
Modi made his first state visit to the island country in March 2015 as part of his larger outreach to India's maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean where he participated in the Mauritius National Day celebration in [[Port Louis]] on 12 March 2015. He was also present during the commissioning ceremony of [[MCGS Barracuda]], the [[Patrol boat|offshore patrol vessels (OPV)]] that Mauritius bought from [[Kolkata]] based [[GRSE]] shipyard. The ship was earlier handed over on 20 December 2014 which marked India's first warship export.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/meet-the-barracuda-the-first-warship-india-will-export-632304?pfrom=home-lateststories|title=Meet the Barracuda – the First Warship India Will Export|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=9 December 2014|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-exports-first-warship-to-mauritius-2045616|title=India exports first warship to Mauritius|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=20 December 2014|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref>
==Multilateral Engagements==
India, as one of leading developing countries, plays an active role in important multilateral forums for global governance such as United Nations, [[World Trade Organization]], [[G20]] leaders summit, [[East Asia Summit]], [[BRICS]] summit of emerging economies, [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and often seen as a '[[Third World]] voice'. Apart from these big platforms India also engaged in many regional groupings like the [[BASIC]], [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]], [[Indian Ocean Rim Association]], [[IBSA Dialogue Forum]], [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]], [[Mekong–Ganga Cooperation]], [[Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation|BIMSTEC]] among others.
===BRICS summit===
[[File:BRICS leaders meet on the sidelines of 2016 G20 Summit in China.jpg|thumb|250 px|The BRICS leaders in 2016. Left to right: [[Michel Temer|Temer]], [[Narendra Modi|Modi]], [[Xi Jinping|Xi]], [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] and [[Jacob Zuma|Zuma]].]]
{{Main|BRICS}}
Modi in his maiden speech at the [[BRICS]], a group of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, called for brotherhood among the member states citing ''[[Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam]]'', an ancient Indian concept meaning the entire world is one family, to unitedly face the global challenges.
India together with its BRICS partner working toward the launching of a financial institute rivalling the western dominated [[World Bank]] and [[IMF]] which was first proposed during the [[4th BRICS summit|New Delhi summit]] in 2012 by the then Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]]. In the [[6th BRICS summit]] held on 14–26 July in [[Fortaleza]], Brazil the group have agreed to establish the bank with a corpus of US$100&nbsp;billion. The bank would be named the [[New Development Bank]] as suggested by the Indian side but Modi government has failed to bag the bank's headquarter for New Delhi which would be located in Shanghai, China.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/brics-summit-to-be-modi-s-first-multilateral-meet-114070700041_1.html |title=BRICS summit to be Modi's first multilateral meet |author=Press Trust Of India |work=[[Business Standard]]|date=7 July 2014 |access-date=28 July 2014}}</ref>
* Later at an event in [[Brasília]] BRICS leaders met the [[UNASUR]] heads of state/heads of government. At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs added Spanish to its list of available languages, which the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' read as "indicative of the government's intent to go beyond Europe, Asia and the US to forge diplomatic and trade ties with Latin American nations."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-to-leave-for-brazil-tomorrow-for-brics-summit/article1-1239519.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713100114/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-to-leave-for-brazil-tomorrow-for-brics-summit/article1-1239519.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2014 |title=BRICS summit: PM Modi leaves for Brazil, also to meet Latin leaders |date= 12 July 2014 |access-date=28 July 2014 |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> He travelled there via Germany.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/modi-causes-interpreter-crisis-for-external-affairs-ministry-114071200902_1.html?_ga=1.143976821.1702752175.1400080839 |title=Modi causes interpreter crisis for external affairs ministry |date=12 July 2014 |author=Archis Mohan |work=[[Business Standard]]|access-date=28 July 2014}}</ref>
===Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit===
{{Main|Shanghai Cooperation Organisation}}
India is now a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which is known to be a China-backed bloc for military and energy cooperation. It held observer status from 2005 and publicly expressed its wish for a full membership. India and Pakistan joined SCO as full members on 9 June 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Although Russia had all along backed India's entry it was Beijing's reservation which held it so long. However Chinese president [[Xi Jinping]] informed Modi during [[6th BRICS summit|BRICS]] summit in Brazil that it is ready to welcome India together with Pakistan to project a united front against Islamic extremism in Central Asia including Afghanistan especially after NATO withdrawal. On 11–12 September [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|EAM]] Sushma Swaraj attended the [[2014 SCO summit|Dushanbe summit]] in Tajikistan where India formally put its paper for a full membership and it became likely that it would be granted so according to Chinese officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-summit-paves-way-for-indias-entry-in-the-group-chinese-experts/articleshow/42396485.cms|title=Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit paves way for India's entry in the group: Chinese experts|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=13 September 2014|access-date=13 September 2014}}</ref> Modi participated at the [[heads of government]] summit in [[Astana]], Kazakhstan in December.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140806/jsp/nation/story_18691973.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814171801/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140806/jsp/nation/story_18691973.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 August 2014|title=Delhigears to join China-Russia club|date=6 August 2014|access-date=11 September 2014}}</ref>
===United Nations general assembly===
{{Main|India and the United Nations}}
Modi delivered his maiden speech in the [[sixty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly]] on 27 September 2014, where he called for reform and expansion of [[United Nations Security Council]] including India's long-standing demand of a permanent membership. He expressed his concerns over the relevance of a 20th-century setup in the 21st century and the need to evaluate the UN's performance in the past 70 years. He had also argued why the UN should serve as "G-All" for global governance instead of several parallel sub-groupings like [[G7]], [[G20]], etc. In the wake of [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]] threat in West Asia and similar in other parts of the globe he urged for immediate implementation of 'Comprehensive on International Terrorism' by the UN and offered India's pro-active role in it citing India as a victim of terrorism for decades. Prior to his speech he along with External Affairs Minister Swaraj met UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] and discussed UN governance relating issues.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-at-unga-lets-work-towards-a-sustainable-world-move-towards-g-all/articleshow/43642407.cms|title=PM Modi at UNGA: Let's work towards a sustainable world; move towards G-All|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=27 September 2014|access-date=27 September 2014}}</ref> Ridiculing the possibility of any multilateral intervention, a demand [[Nawaz Sharif|Sharif]] has made in his address at the UNGA on 26 September, on Kashmir related matter he stated that his government is ready for 'bilateral talk' to Pakistan provided Pakistan should cultivate a suitable environment for talks by giving up terrorism policy against India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/prime-minister-narendra-modi-s-address-to-un-general-assembly-in-10-points-598833?pfrom=home-lateststories|title=Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Address to UN General Assembly in 10 Points|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=27 September 2014|access-date=27 September 2014}}</ref> Modi commented briefly on climate change and use of clean energy. He also asked world leaders and UN officials for observing International Yoga Day, emphasizing the importance of incorporating [[Yoga]] in modern-day lifestyle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-asks-world-leaders-to-adopt-international-yoga-day/articleshow/43646752.cms|title=PM Modi asks world leaders to adopt International Yoga Day|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=27 September 2014|access-date=27 September 2014}}</ref>
At the sidelines, he held bilateral meetings with Bangladeshi Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]], Sri Lankan President [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] and Nepali Prime Minister [[Sushil Koirala]] taking his 'neighbourhood first' policy forward even in New York City. But there was no meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] following the recent low in the relation. Later he also met where [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], in a first meeting in 11 years between the two heads of government, the Israeli Prime Minister who had highlighted the potential of the bilateral relation saying "sky is the limit".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/prime-minister-narendra-modi-meets-his-israeli-counterpart-benjamin-netanyahu/articleshow/43784668.cms|title=Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=29 September 2014|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref>
===ASEAN-India summit===
Association of South-East Asian Nations or ASEAN is the 10 member block, it is one of the most successful regional block in the world. India started looking toward the group seriously from 1992 with the launch of 'Look East policy' and now it occupies the central position in India's policy Southeast Asia. From 2002 onward India and ASEAN started holding an annual summit at the sidelined of ASEAN summit showing the growing level of engagement between the two sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-29999880|title=Indian PM Narendra Modi begins trip to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji|publisher=BBC|date=11 November 2014|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/narendra-modi-arrives-in-myanmar-to-attend-asean-east-asia-summits-1415705110|title=Narendra Modi Arrives in Myanmar for Regional Summits|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=11 November 2014|access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref>
At the [[ASEAN|12th India-ASEAN]] summit, which was Modi's first appearance in an ASEAN meet, he called for greater connectivity with the Southeast Asian countries and mentioned that "India and ASEAN can be 'great partners'".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-and-asean-can-be-great-partners-pm-narendra-modi/articleshow/45122200.cms|title=India and ASEAN can be 'great partners': PM Narendra Modi |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=12 November 2014}}</ref> Stressing on the importance ASEAN commands in India's foreign policy Modi has repeatedly remarked that his government has in the last 6 months made relation with ASEAN a top priority and turned India's two-decade old 'Look East policy' into 'Act East policy' which reflects a renewed momentum in India's approach toward ASEAN nations. The two sides also discussed the scope of extending the existing free trade agreement on the service sector as well and ways to increase [[India-ASEAN Free Trade Area|India-ASEAN]] trade which is expected to reach US$100&nbsp;billion in 2015. Modi also stressed on three 'C's to strengthen the relation and those are commerce, connectivity and cultural links.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/look-east-has-become-act-east-policy-pm-modi-at-asean/|title='Look East' has become 'Act East Policy': PM Narendra Modi at ASEAN|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=12 November 2014}}</ref>
In the sidelines of ASEAN summit Modi, also held several bilateral meetings with his counterparts including Thai Prime Minister Gen [[Prayuth Chan-ocha]], Singapore's Prime Minister [[Lee Hsien Loong]], Sultan of Brunei [[Hassanal Bolkiah]] and South Korean President [[Park Geun-hye]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/narendra-modis-make-in-india-pitch-gets-thai-pms-support/articleshow/45121092.cms|title=Modi's 'Make in India' pitch gets Thai PM's support|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=12 November 2014 |access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref>
;ASEAN Regional Forum
Earlier Swaraj had attended the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations|2014 ASEAN Regional Forum]] followed by the related [[East Asia Summit|EAS Foreign Ministers meeting]], held from 8–11 August in [[Naypidaw]], Myanmar, which was her first ever appearance in multilateral forums after becoming India's foreign affairs head. At the sidelines of the multilateral meetings, she had also held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from seven countries including China, Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei and Indonesia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-08/news/52594297_1_india-asean-trade-south-china-east-asia-summit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810002030/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-08/news/52594297_1_india-asean-trade-south-china-east-asia-summit |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 August 2014 |title=Sushma Swaraj in Myanmar for ASEAN meet, East Asia Summit |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/sushma-swaraj-asean-summit-pham-binh-minh-modi-syed-akbaruddin-18260.html |title=Swaraj holds 7 bilateral meetings on sidelines of ASEAN summit |date=9 August 2014 |publisher=Indiatvnews.com |access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref>
In regards to the controversy of territorial ownership in the [[South China Sea]], a contentious issue impacting most [[ASEAN]] member states, where [[ONGC Videsh]] has an investment in oil blocks, [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|MEA]] spokesperson [[Syed Akbaruddin]] said: "India is not a party to the dispute in the South China Sea. We feel that the dispute should be resolved between those who are party to it in a peaceful manner and it should be in accordance with international law".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/sushma-swaraj-describes-myanmar-visit-as-very-successful_953902.html|title=Sushma Swaraj Describes Myanmar Visit as Very Successful|publisher=[[Zee News]]|date=11 August 2014|access-date=19 August 2014}}</ref>
===East Asia summit===
{{Main|East Asia Summit}}
[[File:National leaders at the 9th East Asia Summit at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.jpg|thumb|Modi ''(fifth from left)'' with national leaders at the 9th EAS in [[Nay Pyi Daw]], Myanmar.]]
East Asia Summit (EAS) which is an ASEAN led dialogue forum comprises 18 countries, 10 core ASEAN nations along with Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. Over the years EAS has become the most important multilateral body in the Asia Pacific region for discussing security, trade and commerce, environment and others, unlike [[APEC]] which is purely economic in nature. Modi participated in the [[Ninth East Asia Summit|ninth]] [[East Asia Summit]] in [[Nay Pyi Daw]], Myanmar in November which was his second major multilateral even after [[6th BRICS summit|BRICS]] in July. Describing the importance of the EAS in managing regional security, Modi mentioned "No other forum brings together such a large collective weight of global population, youth, economy and military strength. Nor is any other forum so critical for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the world".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/look-east-policy-now-turned-into-act-east-policy-modi/article6595186.ece?homepage=true&ref=relatedNews|title='Look East' policy now turned into 'Act East' policy: Modi|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=13 November 2014|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>
With a veiled reference of the [[Territorial disputes in the South China Sea|issue of South China Sea]] Modi has asked the global community for respecting maritime norms and regulations and stressed on the importance of maintaining free and secured sea-lines of communication for regular trade and commerce.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/narendra-modi-calls-for-respect-for-global-maritime-norms/articleshow/45124226.cms|title=Narendra Modi calls for respect for global maritime norms|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=12 November 2014|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> He made a remark that "In a world of interdependence and globalisation, there is no option but to follow international laws and norms. This also applies to maritime security. For this reason, following international law and norms is important for peace and stability in the South China Sea as well".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/many-complex-security-concerns-in-east-asia-region-pm-narendra-modi/articleshow/45133252.cms|title=Many complex security concerns in East Asia region: PM Narendra Modi|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=13 November 2014|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> Modi also focused on the role of EAS member countries to tackle the menace of terrorism in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-asean-must-collaborate-to-tackle-terrorism-narendra-modi/articleshow/45138187.cms|title=India, ASEAN must collaborate to tackle terrorism: Narendra Modi|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=13 November 2014|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> Modi also highlighted the re-opening of [[Nalanda University]] and the role of all EAS member states into it to showcase the joint effort of the block. Among others, the issue of [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership]] (RCEP) was discussed in details during the summit.
In the sidelines of EAS Modi also held several bilateral meetings with his counterparts including Russia Premier [[Dmitry Medvedev]], The Philippines President [[Benigno Aquino III|Benigno Aquino]], Chinese Premier [[Li Keqiang]] and Indonesian President [[Joko Widodo]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/as-aeas-kicksoff-modi-meeds-medvedev-obama-kicks-up-a-row/99/|title=As EAS kicksoff, Narendra Modi meets Medvedev, Obama kicks up a row|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=13 November 2014|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>
===G-20 leaders summit===
{{Main|G20}}
[[File:Heads of the 2014 G-20 member state delegations, invited nations and international organisations (6).jpg|thumb|Modi ''(third from left)'' with national leaders at the 2014 G-20 summit.]]
G20 or the Group of 20 leading economies (advanced and emerging markets) of the world formed after the [[2008 financial crisis]] for international financial governance. India which ranks 5 in terms of nominal GDP and the fastest growing economy plays an important role in the group since it began in 2008. For the first time in 2014, India was represented by Prime Minister Modi unlike all the previous summits when [[Dr. Manmohan Singh]], an economist, used to be the Prime Minister. The host and President of [[2014 G-20 Brisbane summit|2014 summit]] Australia's [[Tony Abbott]] intended the summit to focus exclusively on revamping the crisis prone fragile economy and to add US$2&nbsp;trillion in the global economy by additional 2% global GDP growth rate for the next five years but countries like the US were keener to discuss issues of climate change and reduction of carbon emissions as it sealed a similar pact with China. India's interest was also aligned with Abbott as it wanted to reboot its economy and return to the high growth trajectory soon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/g20-importance-of-the-summit-possible-takeaways-for-india/articleshow/45160632.cms|title=G20: Importance of the summit & possible takeaways for India|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=16 November 2014|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref>
Modi became the Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy, winning the highest number of votes in its history, and was the most sought after world leader at the G20 in Brisbane. ''[[The Guardian]]'' called Modi the ''G20's political rock star'', while commenting on Modi's popularity in Brisbane.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/14/narendra-modi-from-international-pariah-to-the-g20s-political-rock-star|title=Narendra Modi: from international pariah to the G20's political rock star|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 November 2014|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref> His personal rapport with host Australian Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]] was something to watch out for. Abbott who was meeting Modi for the third time, after his New Delhi trip in September and in [[Nay Pyi Daw]] just 2 days ago, extended a warm hug to Modi while welcoming world leaders in the summit venue in Brisbane. This also generated in the Australian media circle as there was 'no hug' even for Abbott's long-time friend Cameron. Modi, on his longest trip of 10 days to three different countries, met leaders from 40 different countries. Thereafter he visited Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra in what is being referred to as his 'diplomatic juggernaut'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/prime-minister-narendra-modi-on-tour-no-time-to-breathe/articleshow/45156376.cms|title=Prime Minister Narendra Modi on tour, no time to breathe!|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=15 November 2014|access-date=16 November 2014|archive-date=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714032048/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/prime-minister-narendra-modi-on-tour-no-time-to-breathe/articleshow/45156376.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The issue of [[Black money|black]] or unaccounted money kept in tax havens (countries that allow foreigners to dump huge unaccounted money) abroad was also raised by Modi which is also a burning issue in India's domestic polity. He also stressed on the need of changing laws in certain countries to allow better information sharing of black money kept abroad as it is also linked to the terror funding.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi-in-brisbane-g20-summit-black-money-cooperation/1/400716.html|title=PM Modi arrives in Australia, global cooperation on black money tops agenda at G20|magazine=[[India Today]]|date=15 November 2014|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref> India the world's largest recipient of remittances with $71&nbsp;billion sent last year, pushed hard for the reduction in the remittance costs of non-residents at the G20 summit, asking it to work on steps to reduce costs in sending money home from abroad which is as high as 10 per cent in some countries. Earlier India has been able to convince Saudi Arabia to reduce it to 3.5 per cent. G20 agreed to bring down the global average cost of transferring remittances to 5%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/forex-and-remittance/g20-vows-to-reduce-cost-of-transferring-remittances-to-5/articleshow/45166444.cms|title=G20 vows to reduce cost of transferring remittances to 5%|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=16 November 2014|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref>
In the sidelines of G20 Modi also held several bilateral meetings with his counterparts including British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]], German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], French President [[François Hollande]], European Union President [[Herman Van Rompuy]], Saudi Crown Prince [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman bin Abdulaziz]], Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] and also attended a special dinner hosted by his friend [[Shinzo Abe]], Prime Minister of Japan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-meets-world-leaders-on-sidelines-of-g20/articleshow/45159594.cms|title=PM Narendra Modi meets world leaders on sidelines of G20 |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=15 November 2014|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref> Even before the G20 summit formally begins all five leaders of the [[BRICS]] grouping gathered in Brisbane for an informal meeting at the invitation of Brazilian President [[Dilma Rousseff]] to discuss issues concerning the group like the [[New Development Bank]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/narendra-modi-lauds-brazilian-dilma-rousseffs-leadership/article6603137.ece?homepage=true|title=Narendra Modi lauds Brazilian Dilma Rousseff's leadership|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=15 November 2014|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref>
===South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation===
{{Main|SAARC}}
Relations with the immediate neighbours in South Asia, which have allegedly long been neglected by the previous governments, became a priority feature in Modi's foreign policy. He started well by inviting all the heads of states/governments of the neighbouring countries at his inauguration and then pushed for an early summit to encourage cooperation in many regional issues like trade, connectivity, infrastructure, transit facility among the member states. In his [[18th SAARC summit|maiden SAARC summit]] in the Nepalese capital [[Kathmandu]], he had focused on greater people to people contacts, better connectivity, commercial linkages within the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/modi-talks-about-closer-south-asian-integrationat-saarc-summit/article6636029.ece?homepage=true&ref=relatedNews|title= Modi talks about 'closer South Asian integration'at SAARC Summit|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>
China, which holds an observer status in the group, was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin seen actively promoting a more active role for itself in the region including infrastructure funding through its proposed [[Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank]] (AIIB) and extending its ambitious [[Maritime Silk Road]] project to South Asian nations. Pakistan, China's all weather friend, also vouched for a more participatory role for the observer nations in the summit process, indirectly advocating for a more Chinese involvement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/at-saarc-pakistan-rebuffed-by-india-over-this-china-issue-626011?pfrom=home-lateststories|title=At SAARC, Pakistan Rebuffed by India Over This China Issue|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> Although no such proposal was accepted because of India's reservation.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/11/china-makes-inroads-into-indias-backyard/|title=China Makes Inroads into India's Backyard|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=27 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>
India had earlier advanced three proposals to boost connectivity in the region and those were the 'Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst SAARC Member States' for seamless vehicular movement beyond the national borders the 'SAARC Regional Agreement on Railways' for international rail service and the 'SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity)' for energy trade in the subcontinent which is often regarded as world's most energy-starved region. Pakistan which is the second largest economy in the block threatened to jeopardise the entire summit by not agreeing on any of the three proposed agreements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/saarc-in-trouble-pakistan-opposing-india-s-proposals-say-sources-625834|title=SAARC in Trouble? Pakistan Opposing India's Proposals, say Sources|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=25 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj had a brief interaction with [[Sartaj Aziz]], Pakistan's foreign affairs advisor which was seen as a possible ice-breaker but later the Indian side termed it as ‘courtesy call’.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/swaraj-aziz-meet-briefly-on-saarc-sidelines/|title=Swaraj, Aziz meet briefly on SAARC sidelines|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=25 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> The Nepalese delegation including Prime Minister Koirala, the summit host, tried hard to mediate between India and Pakistan to rescue the summit from total failure which led to a hand-shake between Modi and Sharif at the end.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/nepal-played-key-role-in-narendra-modi-nawaz-sharif-handshake/articleshow/45300842.cms|title=Nepal played key role in Narendra Modi-Nawaz Sharif handshake|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=27 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/an-epic-handshake-that-salvaged-the-kathmandu-saarc-summit-114112900792_1.html|title=An epic handshake that salvaged the Kathmandu Saarc summit|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=29 November 2014|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref> Finally, all the sides agreed to sign the 'SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity)' only as a face-saving measure for the Kathmandu summit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/saarc-leaders-reach-energy-deal/article6639785.ece?homepage=true|title=SAARC leaders reach last-minute energy deal|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>
In the sidelines of the main summit, Modi also held bilateral meetings with leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka with a notable exception of Pakistan due to ongoing stand-off between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-holds-bilateral-talks-with-saarc-leaders-except-nawaz-sharif/articleshow/45288456.cms|title=PM Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with SAARC leaders except Nawaz Sharif|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>
===Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation===
Although India is not a member of [[APEC]], Chinese president [[Xi Jinping]], the host of the [[APEC China 2014|2014 APEC summit]], invited Modi to attend the event in Beijing as a guest and also showed willingness to support India's bid to join APEC. India already enjoys such support from other member states such as Russia and Vietnam.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/08/chinas-apec-diplomacy|title=China's APEC Diplomacy|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=30 August 2014|access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> However, Modi did not participate in the meeting as a host partner country on the line of Pakistan and Bangladesh on the account of busy diplomatic schedule and a likely state visit to China next year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141106/jsp/nation/story_19003980.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108143642/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141106/jsp/nation/story_19003980.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 November 2014|title=Air miles axe on Modi China trip|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]]|date=6 November 2014|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref>
===International Agency for Solar Technologies and Applications===
{{Main|International Agency for Solar Technologies & Applications}}
Modi has brought together 120 countries to form a solar alliance named ''International Agency for Solar Technologies & Applications (INSTA)''.<ref>{{citation|title=PM Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande to launch game changing solar alliance|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/pm-narendra-modi-and-french-president-francois-hollande-to-launch-game-changing-solar-alliance/articleshow/49975568.cms|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=30 November 2015|last1=Goswami|first1=Urmi}}</ref>
===Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC)===
In November 2016, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their Summit Joint Statement reiterated the resolve of the two countries to "develop industrial corridors and industrial network for the growth of Asia and Africa." India-Japan economic engagement with Africa, under the aegis of Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), is based on the premise that the direction of global economic activities is indeed shifting towards the [[Indo-Pacific]] region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thekootneeti.in/2017/12/27/africa-jp-ind1/|title=The Growth Triad – India-Japan-Africa {{!}} The Asian Contest for Africa|date=27 December 2017|website=The Kootneeti|access-date=25 August 2019}}</ref>
AAGC seeks to provide an alternative model of development and partnership between developed and developing countries/region for mutual benefit incorporating interconnectivity, infrastructure development, and capacity building.
==See also==
* [[List of Prime Ministerial trips made by Narendra Modi]]
* [[Asian foreign policy of Narendra Modi government]]
** [[South Asian foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government]]
** [[Middle Eastern foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government]]
* [[Sushma Swaraj's tenure as External Affairs Minister]]
* [[Premiership of Narendra Modi]]
* [[Timeline of the Narendra Modi premiership]]
* [[Economic policy of the Narendra Modi government]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== Sources ==
* {{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Surupa|date=2019|title=Indian Foreign Policy under Modi: A New Brand or Just Repackaging?|url=https://www.academia.edu/download/60752956/eky008.pdf|access-date=|website=International Studies Perspectives 20.1|pages=1–45}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Hall|first=Ian|date=2016|title=Multialignment and Indian Foreign Policy under Narendra Modi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZMyxDwAAQBAJ|journal=The Round Table|volume=105|issue=3|pages=271–286|doi=10.1080/00358533.2016.1180760|via=|s2cid=156737878}}
* {{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Ian|date=2016|title=Multialignment and Indian foreign policy under Narendra Modi|url=https://www.academia.edu/download/51377250/Multialignment_and_Indian_Foreign_Policy_under_Narendra_Modi-2.pdf|access-date=|website=The Round Table 105.3|pages=271–286}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* {{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Manjari Chatterjee|date=2020|title=Do Leader Ideologies Influence Foreign Policy? Nehruvianism vs. Moditva|url=https://www.academia.edu/download/63164573/AsiaPolicy202020200501-41171-1xba7qg.pdf|access-date=|website=Asia Policy 27.2|pages=176–178}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*
==Further reading==
* "Indian Foreign Policy:The Modi Era" by Harsh V Pant
* "My Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Foreign Visits & Achievements)" by NK Sood
* [https://www.amazon.in/Modi-Doctrine-Foreign-Policy-Minister/dp/9386141159 Sreeram Chaulia (September 2016) ''Modi Doctrine: The Foreign Policy of India's Prime Minister'' – ''Bloomsbury India'']
* [http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/standpoint-do-we-finally-have-an-assertive-foreign-policy-under-pm-narendra-modi-2077065 Jaideep Prabhu (13 April 2015) ''Do we finally have an assertive foreign policy under PM Narendra Modi?'' – ''DNA'']
{{Premiership of Narendra Modi}}{{Foreign relations of India}}
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[[Category:Narendra Modi]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of India]]
[[Category:Foreign policy of the Narendra Modi administration]]
[[Category:Foreign policy by government|Modi, Narendra]]