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In the last few years, an unprecedented change has been witnessed on the front of Indian diplomacy which has drawn the attention of small and developing countries around the world towards India. India’s relations, especially with the small island nations spread across the Pacific Ocean, have now reached a new and stronger height. During the recently held high-level meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), the country’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear to the whole world how India continues to play the role of a reliable partner of these remote island countries in development, disaster management and protection of their sovereignty. Taking forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India has given a new direction to its relations with these countries. Let us take a full and deep review of this important diplomatic meeting, India’s aid policy in the Pacific region and its geopolitical implications.
India’s growing commitment to Pacific Islands countries and the FIPIC platform
These small island nations of the Pacific Ocean may be geographically small in area, but their strategic importance is very high on the front of global trade, maritime security and climate change. For a long time, these regions were ignored by the global superpowers, but ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the charge of raising the voice of the ‘Global South’, India has opened the doors of direct dialogue with these countries. This platform of FIPIC i.e. Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation has proved to be a historic initiative in this direction. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized during the meeting that India does not believe in just making promises, but is running concrete and transparent projects on the ground to meet the basic needs of these countries, thereby bringing positive changes in the lives of the common citizens there.
Impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and ‘SAGAR’ concept
During his address, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar specifically mentioned the visionary vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under which India is working on the policy of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) in the Indo-Pacific region. Whenever Pacific Island countries have faced health crisis, natural disaster or economic crisis, India has been the first to step forward and extend a helping hand like a true and reliable friend. Be it providing life-saving medicines and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, or providing rapid relief material during disasters like cyclones and tsunamis, India has always kept the priorities of these nations topmost. Due to this personal connection and diplomatic will of PM Modi, today these countries of the Pacific Ocean see India as a true and selfless friend.
India’s joint cooperation on climate change and sustainable development
If there is any biggest and existential crisis facing these island countries today, it is global warming and the continuous rise in sea level. These small countries are in danger of drowning due to climate change, and they have been pleading for justice from the developed countries for a long time. In this FIPIC meeting, S Jaishankar made it clear that India is providing full assistance to these countries in the development of renewable energy, solar projects, environment-friendly infrastructure and anti-disaster technologies. India has provided several financial and technical assistance packages to promote solar energy in these countries through the International Solar Alliance (ISA). This is not only fulfilling their energy needs, but is also making them more capable of dealing with the environmental crisis.
India’s growing strategic stature in global geopolitics and Indo-Pacific region
In today’s era, when the Indo-Pacific region is becoming a diplomatic and strategic arena between the world’s superpowers, India’s inclusive and development-centric policy is working to establish a balance in this region. Unlike the strategies of expansionist powers like China to trap these small countries in debt trap, this partnership of India is completely based on respect for sovereignty, mutual transparency and public welfare. This frank and clear message of S Jaishankar in the FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting has once again proved that India is not a superpower limited to its borders only, but it is a responsible nation working with the entire world to pave the way for shared prosperity and global peace. In the coming times, this strengthening relationship between India and the Pacific Islands is going to write a new and golden chapter of global diplomacy.