By Girish Linganna
Jan 2: India had exciting diplomatic moments in 2023 marked by achievements and difficulties. The country achieved new heights in diplomatic relations and strengthened its connections with several nations but also experienced substantial problems with other nations. India had a key role in hosting and chairing major summits this year, which led to the success of the year's most important event.
US Ties: From Biden's Embrace to FBI Indictment
Prime Minister Modi received a unique invitation from President Biden to an official state visit in June 2023, which marked a positive start to Indo-American relations. Biden and Modi had conversations for more than eight hours on this visit.
President Biden flew to New Delhi in September to participate in the G20 leaders' summit despite controversy over his decision not to invite President Zelensky of Ukraine. There was a remarkable surge in the number of high-ranking American officials visiting India during the year and vice versa. Ministers who travelled frequently were Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
A long-pending deal involving armed drones with General Atomics and purchasing commercial planes from Boeing were among the unprecedented multibillion-dollar accords approved by India. But the year came to an unsettling finish when the Department of Justice revealed a scheme to injure an American citizen on American soil through the filing of an indictment in a federal court in New York. The media identified the Sikh separatist leader as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of Sikhs for Justice, even though he was not given a name. Following the US indictment, India formed a high-level commission to examine the claims in detail.
Amidst stagnant relations with the US, Foreign Minister Jaishankar's trip to Russia, his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin, and Russia's designation as a "proven partner" took place.
Khalistan Tensions Push India-Canada Ties to Breaking Point
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that the Indian government was involved in the death of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India had identified as a terrorist, ties between India and Canada were extremely strained. In June, Nijjar was shot and killed outside a Gurudwara located in Surrey, Canada.
Trudeau brought up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 meeting in New Delhi. In response to Trudeau's accusations, India also dismissed Indian diplomat Pavan Kumar Rai, who was in charge of the Indian intelligence agency RAW's Canadian station. Rai was a senior diplomat.
The Indian government denied the accusations made by Trudeau in the House of Commons, calling them "absurd and driven." The Ministry of External Affairs then called in the Canadian envoy and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in response to Canada's expulsion of the Indian diplomat.
India expressed its grave concern about Canadian political officials openly sympathising with separatists and emphasised its longstanding concern about Canada's inaction against radicalism in Khalistan. Travel advisories were issued by both nations, cautioning its nationals not to visit the other. Furthermore, India briefly stopped providing Canada visa services; however, they resumed later in October.
In response to Canada's accusations that "agents of the Indian government" may have been involved in Nijjar's death, in December, Foreign Minister Jaishankar emphasised India's obligation and readiness to resolve any nation's concerns. Due to Canada's accommodation of extremists from Khalistan, tensions between the two nations were already high before these accusations. This diplomatic disagreement is anticipated to last for some time until de-escalation is possible.
China Clash: Arunachal Claim Sparks Border Standoff, G20 Boycott
When China proclaimed its claims to specific regions of Arunachal Pradesh, referring to them as "Zangnan, the southern section of Tibet," tensions between India and China further worsened. China standardised the names of the state's eleven locations. China declined to attend the G20 conference in Delhi this year, even as continuing talks between the two countries focused on resolving border issues.
The Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources released a new national map on August 28. Referred to as a "standard" map, it is part of an ongoing campaign to "rectify" what it considers to be "problematic maps." Notably, at China's southern border with India, this updated map places Indian regions like Arunachal Pradesh and the Doklam plateau inside Chinese borders. In the western portion, Aksai Chin is also included.
India promptly disapproved of the map, denying Beijing's assertions and emphasising their lack of legal basis for claiming sovereignty over Indian territory. Following India's lead, several nations, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, released forceful declarations denouncing China's published map as erroneous and unjustified.
Island Shift: Pro-China Leader in Maldives Throws Wrench in India's Strategy
The eighth President of the Republic of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, appears to have pro-Chinese views. This could have an impact on diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives. After winning the September presidential election, he promised to change the Maldives' "India First" policy and scale back the country's meagre 75-strong Indian military presence.
Muizzu formally asked for the Indian troops to leave the island nation not long after he was elected. President Mohamed Muizzu declared in December that the Indian government has consented to remove its forces from the Maldives, confirming this event. The two countries' bilateral relations may suffer due to this move.
From Execution Threat to Relief: Qatar Respite for Ex-Navy Men Marks Year of Uncertainty
After being detained for espionage, eight ex-Indian Navy sailors who worked for a defence services firm in Qatar had to endure a year-long struggle there. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged that the death sentences the Qatari court imposed were later reduced. In the Dahra Global case, the Court of Appeal recognised the sentencing reductions.
The eight employees of a defence services business in Qatar have been detained in isolation since their arrest in 2022; the Qatari government have not given a clear explanation for this decision. India responded to the sentence modification by saying that it would investigate the case's next stages after speaking with the legal team and the affected parties' families.
Even while there have been significant developments involving the US, Canada, China, and the Maldives, there have also been image-boosting achievements that have little bearing on strategy.
G20 Summit: India Bridges G20 Divide, Claims Diplomatic Crown Jewel
With the approval of the New Delhi Declaration at the G20 summit, India achieved a major diplomatic win by bridging fundamental differences in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. The historic admission of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 was announced by Prime Minister Modi.
Along with launching the Global Biofuel Alliance, Prime Minister Modi outlined plans for an ambitious economic corridor connecting Europe, the Middle East, and India.
On the fringes of the G20 meeting, Prime Minister Modi held multiple bilateral discussions with influential figures, including Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The G20, as a whole, denounced all acts of hostility motivated by religion against people, holy texts, and religious symbols. The conference, which was presided over by India, was a significant diplomatic victory for the nation.
PM on Parade: Modi's Global Tour Marks Record Embassies, Historic Meets
Prime Minister Modi unveiled a comprehensive plan for international engagement on a series of diplomatic missions to eleven nations. These included stops in Sydney, Australia; the Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Hiroshima, Japan; a state visit to meet with US President Joe Biden; and visits to the three Quad nations. In Hiroshima, Prime Minister Modi also met with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, their first since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began.
The first visit by an Indian prime minister to this Indo-Pacific nation began with Prime Minister Modi's historic tour of Papua New Guinea. The Prime Minister of India extended India's diplomatic reach by visiting Egypt, serving as the chief guest at the French military parade on Bastille Day, and holding bilateral talks as part of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, PM Modi suggested that 2028 serve as the host of COP.
New embassies were opened in Lithuania and Paraguay to enhance India's international standing. India also announced plans to open a mission in Latvia and activated its consulate in Seattle.
Operation Dost: Earthquake Diplomacy Earns India Global Kudos
A powerful earthquake rocked southern Turkey and parts of Syria, leaving a large number of casualties and substantial damage in its wake. India swiftly responded by initiating "Operation Dost" to aid the earthquake-affected nations. The mission was given the moniker "Dost," meaning "friend" in Hindi. This attracted attention, particularly when a picture of a Turkish woman cuddling an Indian military commander went viral as aid was being delivered.
Apart from its endeavours in the earthquake-affected area, India showed its solidarity with its neighbour by guaranteeing the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and was instrumental in assisting Colombo in obtaining a comprehensive $3 billion relief package. India also offered assistance to Nepal, which was hit by a terrible earthquake that killed over 150 people.
(The author of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)