Initially published on May 26 th, 2025
After India’s quick army revenge to the Pahalgam terror attack– Procedure Sindoor– the Modi federal government was hailed for definitive leadership. It was a book display screen of toughness. However when the praise discolors, what continues to be is a quieter, harder question: Is India gaining worldwide stature while concurrently losing its community?
Modi fans, support yourselves– after weeks of highlighting India’s international success, it’s time for some straightforward self-reflection. This piece does not intend to take apart however to evaluate both the success and unseen areas of our foreign policy with clear eyes. So right here we go.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Matters Preacher Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s foreign policy has actually undoubtedly come to be a lot more assertive, confident, and unapologetically nationalist. The supposed Jaishankar Doctrine highlights calculated clarity, company articulation of national interest, and multialignment in a period of international uncertainty. This position has actually supplied visible wins on the world phase.
To start with, the excellent. What’s Working: The International Phase
India today holds an extra prominent global setting than it did a decade earlier:
United State Collaboration: India’s connections with the United States are deeper than ever– extending protection, modern technology, and Indo-Pacific participation.
France, UAE, Japan: Strategic collaborations prolong across West Asia and Europe, specifically precede, power, and maritime protection.
Voice of the Global South: Throughout its G 20 presidency, India positioned itself as a champ of developing nations on debt relief, environment money, and equitable development.
Soft Power Diplomacy: From injection diplomacy and UPI exports to digital administration designs and yoga exercise diplomacy, India is shaping international norms.
Modi is entitled to debt for this calculated outreach. And Jaishankar, as the polite face of this vision, has performed it with clearness and conviction.
Second of all, the negative. What’s Faltering: The Area Is Slipping
Yet more detailed to home, India’s area approach tells an extra sobering story:
Sri Lanka: Regardless of India’s $ 4 B rescue throughout its economic crisis, Sri Lanka is currently in sophisticated talks for an Open market Arrangement with China.
Bangladesh: Signed significant collaboration contracts with China in 2025, consisting of assistance to revitalize a WWII-era airbase near India’s Siliguri Corridor.
Nepal: Formalized its participation in China’s Belt and Roadway Effort (BRI), lowering dependency on India.
Maldives: Head of state Mohamed Muizzu eliminated Indian troops under the “India Out” project and welcomed Beijing for infrastructure support.
Bhutan: Described Tibet as “Xizang” and participated in formal border negotiations with China.
Despite years of cultural ties, shared boundaries, and aid diplomacy, India’s regional primacy is being tested, not simply economically but perceptually.
A Framework for Examination
To ground this review in quantifiable terms, I developed a Foreign Policy Framework that scores India’s bilateral involvements across 5 core metrics:
Strategic Freedom– Assesses India’s ability to involve the country without being affected by third parties (e.g., UNITED STATE, China, Russia) or compromising its very own posture.
Economic Influence– Actions trade quantities, aid plans, debt relief, and framework investment India has prolonged or leveraged in that country.
Protection Teamwork– Examines bilateral military interactions, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, border management, or defense technology partnership.
Soft Power– Records cultural, spiritual, educational, digital diplomacy, humanitarian help, and people-to-people ties.
Geopolitical Alignment– Reflects whether the partner straightens with India’s vision of a multipolar globe, Indo-Pacific equilibrium, anti-terrorism positions, and core nationwide passions.
Each metric carries equal weight (20 %), and countries are ranked on a 10 -factor scale based on India’s efficiency from 2022 to 2025 The resulting spider chart (see below) aesthetically maps India’s local and worldwide standing under the Jaishankar Teaching, and how it ratings versus its neighbors. I have actually added the United States into the mix as well to collectively display wins on the Worldwide phase.
While not an exact scientific research, this model offers an organized lens to assess India’s foreign policy posture and place locations requiring recalibration.
Strategic Risks Ahead
Without a purposeful course modification, India encounters severe geopolitical consequences:
Chinese Encirclement: Beijing is now financially and purposefully embedded in nearly every SAARC country.
Decreasing Soft Power: India dangers being viewed as responsive and paternalistic, as opposed to collaborative and civilizational.
Loss of Strategic Autonomy: The U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Pakistan in 2025 (rejected as official mediation by Jaishankar) still highlighted the fragility of reciprocal management.
Economic Variation: China’s infrastructure impact could re-shape South Asia’s profession passages without India at the facility.
Effectively, India dangers ending up being an international power without neighborhood circle of trust.
Time for a Rebalanced Doctrine
India has to progress its local playbook. A modernized, well balanced strategy needs to include:
Restoring Trust with Neighbors: Much less importance, more sustained interaction.
Economic Weight to BRI: Companion with Japan, the EU, and others to use legitimate options.
Take Full Advantage Of Soft Power: Elevate India’s natural benefits in education, spiritual diplomacy, and technology.
Restore SAARC and BIMSTEC: Don’t abandon local online forums; lead them.
The Final Word
India’s worldwide ascent is genuine. Yet real leadership means transforming global regard into regional self-confidence.
Both Modi and Jaishankar have raised India’s diplomatic visibility on the world phase. However they need to now face the unpleasant truth: a solid foreign policy can not rest only on picture or oratory. It should be determined, examined, and relied on.
India’s following jump won’t come from louder messaging. It will originate from much deeper connections– specifically in the house.
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