Comrades To Stand With

Modi’s visits to Maldives and Sri Lanka underscore the primacy of neighbouring countries in our foreign policy.

- Pranay Sharma

The first visit by a newly elected Indian prime minister to a country has traditionally been New Delhi’s way to send out a strong diplomatic signal not only to the host, but also to other observers in the neighbourhood.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has a knack of doing things differently, has chosen two countries, instead of one, as maiden destinations of his second term. In a back-to-back visit, he will be in Maldives and Sri Lanka from June 8 and 9, to emphatically underline the importance that New Delhi accords to its relations with the two island nations.

In a way, Modi is carrying on from where he left off during his first term. Modi had begun his 2014 tenure with an emphasis on India’s immediate neighbours, inviting leaders from South Asia for his inaugural ceremony. After returning to power last month with a massive mandate, Modi continued with that, inviting leaders of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) grouping for his second inaugural ceremony on May 30. To reiterate, by deciding on Maldives and Sri Lanka as his first foreign tour, Modi has stressed yet again that India’s immediate neighbourhood will continue to enjoy top priority.

That Maldives could be Modi’s choice as his first foreign destination if he were to return to power was on the cards. The inclusion of Sri Lanka, however, seems a surprise. Especially since Sri Lankan Pre si dent Maithripala Sirisena was among the invited guests from the neighbourhood at Modi’s inauguration.