Reference Article: Editorial | The Hindu – Beyond the optics: on Indian diplomacy, the global order
UPSC Relevance
– GS Paper II – International Relations, India’s Foreign Policy, Global South, West Asia, Africa
– GS Paper III – External Trade, Economic Diplomacy, Strategic Corridors
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman reflects India’s calibrated diplomacy in a world marked by transactional geopolitics. The tour aimed to:
- Deepen bilateral ties with strategically located partners
- Reinforce India’s leadership aspirations in the Global South
- Strengthen India’s development partnerships across West Asia and Africa
All three countries play distinct regional roles and collectively align with India’s broader geopolitical and economic outreach.
Economic and Strategic Outcomes
The tour yielded tangible diplomatic and economic gains:
- Oman
- Signing of the Cooperation Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
- Bilateral trade has doubled to $10 billion
- CEPA seen as a stepping stone toward a broader India–Gulf Cooperation Council free trade agreement
- Jordan
- Agreements on renewable energy and water management
- Engagements underscored Jordan’s importance in regional stability
- Ethiopia
- Launch of a strategic partnership
- Focus on trade, technology and knowledge exchange
- Discussions on reviving the Africa–India Summit
- Ethiopia’s role enhanced by its membership in BRICS and hosting of the African Union
Geopolitical Signalling in West Asia
Beyond economics, the tour carried strong political messaging:
- India reiterated its traditional support for the Palestinian cause
- Joint statements with Jordan and Oman called for:
- Peace in Gaza
- Establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state
- The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor was conspicuously absent from joint statements, reflecting regional instability caused by the Gaza conflict
- Mr. Modi’s visit to Jordan coincided with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Israel, signalling India’s attempt to balance relations across rival blocs
Limits of Optics and the Road Ahead
While the tour projected diplomatic warmth and strategic intent:
- The absence of consistent messaging to Israeli leadership risks diluting India’s stated position
- India’s credibility in West Asia depends on aligning rhetoric across all interlocutors
- Sustaining leadership in the Global South will require translating symbolic diplomacy into coherent, principled and consistent foreign policy actions
India’s engagement with Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman underscores its ambition to shape a multipolar global order, but strategic autonomy will demand steadier alignment between optics and outcomes.
Sample UPSC Mains Question
India’s recent engagements with West Asia and Africa highlight its aspiration to lead the Global South while maintaining strategic autonomy. Discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in balancing economic diplomacy with geopolitical signalling in India’s foreign policy.