G7 Compendium: Modi’s Foreign Policy Oversight and the China Problem
Last week the leaders of the G7 held the 47th summit in Cornwall, UK. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the four invited guests (alongside Australia, South Korea and South Africa) with the core of the G7 which are the representatives of the world’s largest IMF-advanced economies and wealthiest countries- Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau, Angela Merkel, Yoshihide Suga, Mario Draghi, Ursula von der Leyen (EU) and Charles Michel (EU) hosted by Boris Johnson.
The G7 summit can be summarized in the context of India in three parts.
The first being about China. The statements made by officials were strictly and straightforwardly spoken against China’s expansionist policies in Hong Kong & the South China Sea and the genocide of Uighur Muslims. China later denounced the statements by saying they were lies and false accusations, we cannot expect anything more from the Chinese State Media as they only broadcast the CCP’s script. The summit agenda also tackled the trillion-dollar project of China, the ‘Belt & Road Initiative’ which would finish in the 2050s and would make China even more powerful not just economically but geopolitically. The agenda also addressed and stood for free market opposing the market restrictions China puts on their corporations and citizens limiting their choices and open trade which only benefits their state.
All this concern is a breather for Modi. G7 is invested in South Asia as a potential allied region and India plays a major part in that considering the recent geopolitical events. This should also pave the way for some kind of cooperative alliance with NATO but the NATO-India relationship complex is distraught. Reasons being New Delhi’s failure in thinking strategically about Europe as an ally and the complicated history surrounding Russian and American diplomacy.
“In the midst of these threats, we will work together to create an open and inclusive rules-based international order for the future that promotes universal human rights and equal opportunities for all,” the statement said.
The second part of the summarization involves the COVID-19 pandemic and the current vaccination drive and distribution along with climate change discussions and proposals. Modi’s call for a vaccine patent waiver met with widespread support. Modi also says ‘One world, one health’. India also urged the G7 leaders to keep their promise of finance mitigation of $100 billion a year to small underdeveloped countries which include the transfer of technology. The vaccination proposals might not be that big of a help for India as some might expect. Currently being ‘Atmanirbhar’ is working for us as the rates of vaccinated people are increasing.
The third summarization being the national security of India and free speech concerns in Jammu & Kashmir. The internet shutdowns in J&K by the government were widely criticised by people all over the world. Now the G7 obliges the terming India used by calling it sedition, public safety, national security etc. There is a ton of grey area for the government to comment about.
The takeaways for India are: making some value of their relationship with Europe and North America, having a stronghold which India currently does not because of the inner ramblings, and thinking strategically about economic cooperation with G7 with priorities not being left out. In 2021, India as a nation to other world-leading countries is being judged and is in the worst condition possible. So far 2021 gave India a failed COVID-19 handling strategy, failure in coordinating vaccination drives, unsuccessful in getting all states together and not create major political tensions between state and centre. Many internal challenges are being faces and it is not a fulfilling outlook. Although it will take time to get things back on track, India should think ahead and consider risks and rewards in terms of geopolitical security and increasing economical strength.
The summit agenda also included global corporate tax reforms, defunding coal-burning power plants, and pledging of a billion doses to smaller nations. The 3-day summit ended with all the countries vowing to work together and maintain international order by protecting human rights, ensure freedom of speech and expression and identify and oppose the rise of authoritarianism and corruption.
India deserves to play a major role ahead and rethink some of its foreign policy concerning the European Union and G7. It should plan for the decade ahead as China has a hegemonical strategy economically and geographically. But as of now, there seems to be clutter in the Indian foreign policy.
