Neighbourhood challenges and some opportunities

How India worked on Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who was aggressive and provocative towards India, and made him realise that India only wished his country well, is a template worth emulating in developing relations with other nations.

- SURENDRA KUMAR

A OPINION fair overview of the conduct of India's foreign policy in 2024 will indicate that India has done rather well in all spheres except in relations with some neighbours. The issues that have dominated India's foreign policy in 2024 are: national security and protection of our national borders, foiling terrorist attacks from across the border, pursuing policies which will promote and strengthen ties with neighbours, vigorously demanding safety and wellbeing of Indians abroad, especially in neighbouring countries, expanding and deepening relations with developed nations which could give economic and technological heft to India's efforts to achieve her domestic agenda for economic transformation, seeking convergences in bilateral relations which will be mutually beneficial and serve strategic interests, participating in plurilateral, multilateral and global initiatives which serve global commons like addressing climate change and seek peaceful resolutions of conflicts which are causing a huge loss of lives, infrastructure, causing humanitarian crises and environmental degradation.

The agreement reached with China on 21 October on "patrolling arrangements along the LAC in Depsang and Demchok leading to disengagement" was arguably the most significant breakthrough in India-China relations since the Galwan valley clashes. In effect, the agreement restores patrolling by both sides in all areas of LAC as it occurred prior to 28 May 2020. The thaw has already resulted in bookings for Kailash and Mansarovar yatra in 2025. Trade at Nathu La (Sikkim); Lipulekh (Uttarakhand) and Dumchelles (southern Ladakh) are likely to resume.