NEW DELHI: India's "Neighbourhood First" policy will be prominently showcased during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony for his third term, scheduled for Saturday. Prime Minister Modi has invited key leaders from neighbouring countries.
The guest list includes Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck are all expected to attend.
Additionally, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay might accompany the monarch to New Delhi. Confirmations have been received from both the Bangladesh Prime Minister and the Sri Lankan President, with media reports suggesting that Sheikh Hasina will arrive in New Delhi on Friday.
India maintains close and friendly ties with Bangladesh, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, and the leaders of these nations share a personal rapport with Modi. Despite the geographical distance, Mauritius has significant Indian-origin demographics, strengthening bilateral bonds. Relations with Nepal, previously strained due to a perceived pro-China stance by Nepalese Communist leaders and territorial disputes, have seen marked improvement.
Successive Nepalese Prime Ministers, including Prachanda, have demonstrated a commitment to strengthening the historic ties with India.
In contrast, relations with Pakistan have been strained for several years, and ties with the Maldives have deteriorated recently due to the policies of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who is perceived as pro-China.
Nonetheless, President Muizzu has made efforts to mend relations with New Delhi, a gesture acknowledged by PM Modi with a thank-you note for his congratulatory message. Myanmar remains under a military dictatorship, creating diplomatic challenges for India.
Reflecting on past swearing-in ceremonies, in 2014, PM Modi invited leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for his first inauguration, including then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, SAARC has been largely inactive since 2016 due to India-Pakistan tensions. The eight SAARC member nations include India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Despite this, New Delhi has reiterated the importance of SAARC for regional cooperation and continues to pursue initiatives to foster closer ties among South Asian nations.
For his second swearing-in ceremony in 2019, PM Modi invited leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a regional grouping comprising India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. BIMSTEC has grown in significance as a regional body, with five South Asian and two Southeast Asian nations as members, underscoring its increasing importance in regional cooperation.
The upcoming ceremony underscores India's diplomatic strategy of fostering robust relationships with neighboring countries, reflecting a long-term vision for regional stability and cooperation.
