Modi 3.0 Neighboring countries invited to swearing-in ceremony, but not China-Pak, India gave a strong message without saying anything

New Delhi: Narendra Modi is going to become the Prime Minister of India for the third time. After the NDA alliance got a majority in the Lok Sabha elections, the President has invited Modi to form the government. Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday, June 9. The heads of states of India’s seven neighboring countries have been invited to his/her swearing-in ceremony. The decision to invite the heads of neighboring countries to the swearing-in ceremony has been taken to strengthen relations with those countries, which are at the center of Delhi’s ‘Neighbor First’ policy. However, it has not been openly said that the objective of India’s ‘Neighbor First’ policy is to stop China, which has an expansionist mindset. China is aggressively expanding infrastructure projects in the Indian Ocean region under the ‘String of Pearls’ policy and is rapidly building naval bases and ports. Through this policy, China is trying to dominate the neighboring countries. Meanwhile, the heads of states of Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh are reaching Delhi to attend PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. It is worth noting that China and Pakistan have not been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the Narendra Modi-led government.

All eyes are on the President of Maldives

Of all the neighbouring countries that have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony, the most special one will be Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu. Muizzu is going to meet PM Modi for the first time. By accepting the invitation to the swearing-in ceremony, Maldives has made it clear that it wants to talk to India. Whereas recently, after the withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives, the relations between the two countries had soured. Last year also, some ministers of Maldives had made objectionable comments about PM Modi, after which a controversy arose between the two countries. However, Maldives removed those ministers from their posts.

This meeting will also be special because Maldives President Muizzu came to power with the slogan ‘Kick India Out’. Apart from this, he/she has signed a military agreement with Beijing, which allows the provision of free Chinese military assistance to promote strong bilateral relations. In February this year, a Chinese research ship Jian Yang Hong 03 arrived in Male. Although China insists that its ships are deployed for peaceful purposes, India’s Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar, who recently retired, had told NDTV that the Navy is concerned that these ships are exploring underwater areas and can be used to deploy submarines.

India is giving a blow to China’s expansionist policy

China’s expansionist policy is not hidden from anyone. It is running a military facility in the African country Djibouti. This is China’s first international base. Satellite imagery shows that the base is now fully operational. China has docked its major warships at newly built jetties that are large enough to berth aircraft carriers in the future.

India has built a military facility on Mauritius’ Agalega Island to counter this Chinese base. Reports of construction and the presence of Indian military personnel on the island indicate that it may become a permanent base, although neither Mauritius nor India have spoken openly about future plans. Pictures here show that new jetties along with an airstrip are also present on the island. It is believed that this will be the base for the Indian Navy’s P-8 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which will keep an eye on the activities of the Chinese Navy in the region.

China’s hold will weaken in Sri Lanka too

India is preparing to respond to every move of China. India has also made preparations to control China’s activities in Sri Lanka. In August 2022, India objected to the Chinese deployment of China’s state-of-the-art missile and satellite tracking vessel Yang Wang 05 at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port. Colombo had given approval to China to develop the port, but now it has lost its control here under the burden of debt and now a Chinese company has taken control of this port.

Indian companies are now playing a big role in developing Sri Lanka’s infrastructure. America, which is India’s major strategic partner, is also helping in these plans. This can be understood in this way that last year an American company had promised to give Rs 4,600 crore for a project of Colombo Port. India’s Adani Group has a 51% stake in this terminal. A Chinese company has a terminal at this port, from where China keeps an eye on Sri Lanka.

India stands shoulder to shoulder with Bhutan

China is trying to build relations with many countries on the coast of the Indian Ocean under the guise of economic partnership. Bhutan is an example of this. China attacked Bhutan’s territories and cut down the mountains there. China established its towns on the land there. Since Bhutan does not have any military force, it remains a mute spectator to China’s cutting off its territory, which continues despite the ongoing border talks.

Bhutan is also a very important neighbouring country for India. China has illegally occupied a large part of Doklam. This is the same place where a violent clash took place between Indian and Chinese soldiers in 2017. India is worried that Chinese forces will move towards the Siliguri Corridor. This is a narrow part connecting India to the North East. That is, if this route is closed, India will be separated from its own North East states.

Therefore, India is making many agreements to strengthen Bhutan. India has made many agreements in areas ranging from space to energy and education. PM Modi himself visited Thimpu in February. he/she was also awarded Bhutan’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo. Bhutan has also sought help from India for many projects.

A strong message was given through gestures

Even though the issue of heads of neighbouring countries attending PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony will be limited to formal talks and thank you memos, its strong message will definitely reach our opposing neighbours. India’s deliberate decision of not inviting China and Pakistan to the swearing-in ceremony points to our clear foreign policy and diplomacy. Through this step, India has made it clear that it is not only capable of stopping China’s expansionist policy but is also going to lead the South Asian countries.