Here You Know: India Is Moving Toward A Great Power Strategy Under PM Modi’s Leadership

New Delhi, January, 2024: In an article titled “Bharat Narrative,” China’s state-controlled Global Times praised India’s economic policies and diplomatic achievements over the past four years under PM Modi’s leadership, highlighting that New Delhi’s strategic thinking in “foreign policy has evolved, moving towards a great power strategy.” Zhang Jiadong, Director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, wrote an article highlighting India’s remarkable achievements over the last four years. It also recognized India’s strong economic growth, improvements in urban governance, and a shift in attitude toward international relations, particularly with China.

 “For example, when discussing the trade imbalance between China and India, Indian representatives used to primarily focus on China’s trade imbalance-reduction measures.”

“However, they are now focusing more on India’s export potential,” Jiadong wrote. The article also praised India’s proactive approach to cultivating a “Bharat narrative” and emphasized the country’s strategic confidence.

According to the author, India has become more strategically confident and proactive in creating and developing a ‘Bharat narrative’ as a result of its rapid economic and social development. “In the political and cultural spheres, India has shifted away from emphasizing its democratic consensus with the West and toward emphasizing the ‘Indian feature’ of democratic politics.”

 “At the moment, there is an even greater emphasis on the Indian origins of democratic politics,” he added. According to the author, the shift reflected India’s desire to emerge from its historical colonial shadow and establish itself as a global political and cultural influencer. The Chinese media article also praised India’s foreign policy strategy under PM Modi, which highlighted the country’s multi-alignment approach and strengthened ties with major global powers such as the United States, Japan, and Russia while taking a nuanced stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The article stated that India’s strategic thinking in foreign policy has undergone another change and is “moving towards a great power strategy.” “Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power, he has advocated for a multi-alignment strategy, promoting India’s relations with the US, Japan, Russia, and other countries and regional organizations,” he said.

According to the article, India has always considered itself a world power.

However, it has only been less than a decade since India transitioned from multi-balancing to multi-alignment, and it is now rapidly shifting toward a strategy of becoming a pole in the multipolar world. At the same time, Zhang concluded, “It appears that a transformed, stronger, and more assertive India has become a new geopolitical factor that many countries need to consider.”

“Furthermore, the Global Times’ rare acknowledgement of India’s advancements and PM Modi’s strategic vision demonstrates the growing recognition of India’s burgeoning global influence and the implications of its assertive posture on the international landscape.”