After External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s
successful visit to Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay last week, the
Narendra Modi government is going to intensify engagement with
Latin America as these countries want to deepen bilateral
cooperation with India. Jaishankar become the first Indian foreign
minister to visit Latin America in nine years after UPA’s Salman
Khurshid visited some of these countries way back in 2013.
It is learnt that EAM Jaishankar was given a red-carpet
treatment by his Brazilian, Argentinian, and Paraguayan
counterparts with head of state of all three countries taking out
time to meet the Indian Foreign Minister. The leadership of the
three countries was appreciative of India’s stance on Ukraine,
Indo-Pacific, and the way the Indian Army is standing up to the PLA
in East Ladakh. These countries were particularly appreciative of
PM Modi’s strong leadership in context of strategic autonomy and
India’s global vaccine support when the coronavirus was ravaging
the world with deaths all around.
The success of EAM Jaishankar’s visit reflected the rising clout
of India as it assumes the Presidency of the G-20 later this year
while remaining a member of the UNSC till end of January 2023. One
must remember that when Minister Khurshid went to Latin America in
2013, India was a smaller economy than Brazil and its position
shaky within the BRICS grouping. Today, India is on way to become
the fifth largest economy in the world with the potential of
becoming at least number three economy this decade.
The appreciation of India’s rising stature and PM Modi’s
leadership was evident during EAM’s visit as Latin American
leadership finds the Indian Prime Minister not afraid to take
stands on strategic issues in national interest be it on Ukraine or
on Indo-Pacific.
The inauguration of Indian embassy in Paraguay by the EAM and
his recent visit to Kenya in June are clear signals that the Modi
government will increase India’s diplomatic footprint and specially
engage those countries who have been supportive of New Delhi over
the years.
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