Dr Neeraj Jandial
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently undertook his first visit abroad to Europe this year. During this tour, he held meetings, bilateral as well as multilateral with world leaders from seven countries and discussed many pressing issues of international importance with them. This visit by the Prime Minister is the first major engagement by the top Indian leadership with the major European powers since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022.
The visit comes in the backdrop of multiple visits from the European Side, including that by the European commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen to New Delhi some days back, who had pressed for the historic necessity to forge a common front against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Infact, the foreign secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra at the start of the PM’s tour to Europe stated succinctly that “the principal objective of PM’s visit is to continue to strengthen multi-dimensional, multi-faceted partnerships with key countries of Europe, “further adding that the PM’s trip is a “very clear manifestation of our focus”.
During the first leg of his visit to Germany, PM Modi and German Federal chancellor Olaf Scholz co-chaired the sixth India-Germany Inter-Governmental consultations (IGC), a unique biennial format which India conducts only with Germany. During the meeting, PM Modi said that he sees the IGC as an early engagement with the new government in Germany to identify priorities for the medium and long term. Underlining that long standing commercial ties between India and Germany form “one of the pillars of our strategic partnership”, the PM stated that the two leaders will address a business round table that will help strengthen the post-covid economic recovery in both countries.
It may be noted that Germany which is Europe’s economic power house till the invasion of Ukraine by Russia had conducted its foreign relations in a pacifist manner.In the aftermath of invasion by Russia, it has made a huge turn around in its political and strategic choice to support Ukraine by providing it with weapons and money in its defence against Russia. Berlin has also decided to make economic sacrifices by agreeing to the costly proposition of cutting energy dependence on Moscow.
The PM’s visit witnessed signing of many agreements between both the countries. Both New Delhi and Berlin launched a Green and Sustainable Development Partnership by which Berlin will provide 10 billion dollars until 2030 to help implement New Delhi’s climate transition plans and decided to sign a migration and mobility agreement that will benefit students and professionals from the two countries. The two sides also signed seven more agreements, including one on joint implementation of development projects in third countries and another on establishing a renewable energy partnership.
During the second leg of his first-ever official visit to the Nordic country, PM Modi and his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiken reviewed progress in the Green Strategic Partnership between the two countries. They also discussed many regional and global issues including India-EU relations, Indo-Pacific and other regional and global issues including increasing trade relations and cooperation in the field of mitigating the impact of climate change during their bilateral talks in addition to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Both the leaders expressed hope that the negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement will be concluded at the earliest. This visit by PM resulted in both New Delhi and Copenhagen signing a number of agreements covering sectors such as green shipping, animal husbandry and dairying, water management, energy and cultural exchanges to strengthen their relations.
In the joint statement, both the Prime Minister’s expressed their serious concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. They unequivocally condemned civilian deaths in Ukraine. They reiterated the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities. They discussed the destabilizing effect of the conflict in Ukraine and its broader regional and global implications. Underlining the seriousness of the issue, the Danish PM said, she “hoped” that “India will influence Russia” to end the war. The occasion also witnessed both the countries confirming their continued collaborations in the field of antimicrobial resistance. While, Indian authorities accepted the Danish invitation to join the International Center for Anti-microbial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) as a mission partner, the authorities in Denmark also confirmed their accession to the Global Digital Health Partnership on India’s invitation to improve public health.
During the second leg of his visit, PM Modi met the four Nordic leaders on the side line of the second India-Nordic Summit. He held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland. He discussed with them ways to further deepen bilateral ties and also exchanged views on key issues related to international peace and security, including the conflict in Ukraine, multilateral cooperation, green transition and climate change, the blue economy, innovation and digitalisation.
Upon the last engagement of his three-nation European tour, PM Modi held wide- ranging talks on many important issues in Paris with French President, Emmanuel Macron. After this meeting, both the leaders in their joint statement noted that India and France have built a strong strategic partnership for advancing peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Both the leaders reiterated that the two nations will continue to develop new partnership in various formats with like-minded countries in the region. The two leaders also “strongly condemned all forms of terrorism, including the use of terrorist proxies and cross-border terror. Specifically, both the leaders unequivocally condemned the civilian deaths in Ukraine , called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and agreed to remain engaged in dealing with the global implications of the conflict ,especially in addressing the risk of aggravated food crisis as a result of the strife.
This visit by PM Modi is an effort by New Delhi to enhance the relationship of India with countries of Europe in wide divergent fields. The sheer pace of events which are taking place at the International arena makes it contingent for New Delhi to be better placed, so as to react swiftly to the challenges posed in the new international world order.
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