Balaji Chandramohan
As the largest democracy in the world voted for the incumbent, conservative and nationalistic Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the strategic orientation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be of interest to Indo-Pacific countries such as Australia, New Zealand and those in the South Pacific.
Paradigm shift in Strategic Calculus
The massive mandate that Parliamentary Elections gave to BJP and Mr Modi could reflect the long and under-represented sections of people who wish to see India’s transition from a geographically and demographically large country to a power to reckon with at international high-tables.
This would incorporate assertive diplomacy and the use of robust military power, backed by a sound and surging economy.
Signalling a paradigm shift, the BJP Foreign Policy agenda could become more realistic. This aspect of strategic conduct was reflected from 1998 to 2004 and again from 2014 when the right-wing BJP occupied the Treasury benched.
In continuation of the May 2014 results which made India assert itself on the global stage as a great power, the 2019 Election will reflect the same trend in India’s Strategic Orientation.
Strong Military Power
When translated as a policy derivate, it would mean that India will be expected to usher in the second set of economic reforms and build a robust military by developing a domestic military-industrial complex.
The latter would mean jobs to young Indian technocrats, shun dependency on foreign hardware and geographically develop capability from being a net security provider in the Indian Ocean to the larger Indo-Pacific community in one strategic arc.
Australia and New Zealand, which have often viewed India as a reluctant global player will see the country in a different light and as a challenge to China’s increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
New Postures
Therefore, India’s new posture towards developing friendly relations with its neighbours has found consensus within its ruling elite and among its neighbours.
This approach is deeply rooted in understanding that India’s neighbours, especially the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries are more attracted to China’s Yuan Diplomacy and hence, New Delhi would be obliged to change its regional security strategy that is more flexible.
Trade and Diaspora
It is presumed that the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand and India and Australia will get a boost during Modi’s second term.
This can come as a pleasant gift to businesses in New Zealand and India. Despite numerous rounds of talks since 2007, there has been little progress. This will change by a decisive push for the long-awaited FTA with New Zealand from the Indian side.
Modi’s speeches during his recent election campaign indicated a more friendly diplomatic approach in providing business visas to people from New Zealand and Fiji to increase Foreign Direct Investment.
New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and New Caledonia have sizable and long-established Indian expatriate communities.
These communities wield significant economic and political influence in each country and are an important source of connectivity.
India could become more assertive during Modi’s second term as Prime Minister in its strategic orientation.
Balaji Chandramohan is Indian Newslink Correspondent based in New Delhi, India.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Picture from PMO)
