Key points
- Modi faces isolation as US-China ties fray
- Modi’s personal diplomacy blamed for foreign policy failures
- India returns to non-aligned “strategic autonomy” approach
- Critics question Modi’s credibility amid global setbacks
ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, once celebrated for forging close ties with global powers, now finds himself isolated amid worsening relations with both China and the United States.
Modi’s highly publicised camaraderie with Donald Trump has unravelled dramatically. Despite campaigning for Trump’s re-election in 2019, Modi now faces humiliation after Trump, in his second presidential term, slapped a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, according to The New York Times.
Citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, Trump labelled India’s economy “dead” and controversially equated Pakistan’s leadership with India’s in his attempts to mediate the countries’ border conflict, drawing ire in New Delhi and raising questions over Modi’s foreign policy credibility.
The fallout has exposed India’s limited global influence, with Modi admitting this week that he may “pay a heavy price” for refusing US demands. His pushback came cloaked in nationalistic rhetoric: “India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers.”
Diplomatic strain
The diplomatic strain with the US comes amid long-standing tensions with China. A border standoff dating back to 2014 has kept Indian troops stationed in the Himalayas for years, costing the economy dearly.
Now, with relations with Washington deteriorating, Modi is attempting to warm ties with Beijing and Moscow — signalling a return to India’s non-aligned “strategic autonomy” doctrine.
Critics argue that Modi’s personalised approach to diplomacy has backfired. “We now have… an Indian prime minister who is also an egotistical person,” said former government adviser Sanjaya Baru, blaming the breakdown on Modi’s overreliance on individual relationships.
As global trust in India wavers and trade negotiations falter, even former allies view Modi’s global strategy as politically self-serving — and increasingly ineffective.
