India, June 11, 2024
During a banquet held by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised India’s dedication to its ‘Neighborhood First’ doctrine and ‘SAGAR Vision’ for the Oceanic region.
He addressed several neighbouring heads of government as well as those from nations within South Asia as well as onboard the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), all of whom had been invited to the inauguration of his third administration’s swearing-in ceremony.
Modi delivered his message on a broader scale and used this as a way of showing their commitment in terms of regional cooperation and development in India. Under Modi’s leadership, India’s foreign policy has been anchored in the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, which gives priority to ties with neighbouring countries.
The ‘SAGAR Vision’ is aimed at enhancing economic prosperity and peace within the Indian Ocean region by working together with other countries in the area.
A number of eminent personalities graced us with their presence during the banquet. These were the President of Sri Lanka by the name Ranil Wickremesinghe. The President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; the Vice President of Seychelles by the name Ahmed Afif; as well as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister called Sheikh Hasina.
Pravind Kumar Jugnauth from Mauritius who happens to be the country’s Premier; Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda from Nepal while Tshering Tobgay serves as Bhutan’s Premiere.
Modi’s need to bolster ties with India’s regional neighbors and address critical issues underscored a key point during this function. It was more of a means through which he showed that India still attaches value to regional integration and growth at large while aiming at deepening links between itself and other countries that fall under the Global South.
This occasion also brought out the way in which India is gaining ground as one of the big boys within its geographical context.