It has already grown its footprint in Southeast Asia through activities with the Quad and in the Middle East through its minilateral arrangement with Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Modi’s visit to Port Moresby also telegraphs India’s desire to extend its influence beyond its own neighborhood-and further into the Pacific part of the Indo-Pacific region. Some Papua New Guineans fear the deal will increase the country’s dependence on the United States-at the cost of some development assistance it receives from China. These are troubling developments for India and other members of the Quad, given the proximity of these activities to Australia.Īlthough India doesn’t seek to give the impression that it’s competing with the United States, closer Indian engagement with Papua New Guinea can offer a complement to Washington’s deepening security collaborations with Port Moresby, which include a security pact concluded this week with Blinken in town. Beijing is deepening economic influence in Pacific Island states through its Belt and Road Initiative, and in 2022 it inked a security partnership with the Solomon Islands. Modi’s outreach in Papua New Guinea also gives India another chance to counter China in the Indo-Pacific. (Leaders from Australia and New Zealand also attended.) Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape endorsed India’s influence: On Monday, he described Modi as the leader of the global south and called on him to fight for the causes of Papua New Guinea and other island states. He engaged with leaders from Papua New Guinea and 13 other Pacific Island nations, each acutely vulnerable to climate change and could benefit from Indian investments in clean energy. Likewise, Modi’s visit to Port Moresby offered useful opportunities. India’s G-20 presidency this year gives it a powerful platform to do so. It aims to straddle both worlds, using its influence to address global challenges that disproportionately affect the global south, from climate change to debt. More recently, its growing economic and military power has enabled it to deepen ties with developed states. Since its days as a founding leader of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War, India has positioned itself as a champion of developing-world causes. Strengthening relations with the country can help advance three key Indian foreign-policy goals: acting as a bridge to the global south, countering China in the Indo-Pacific region, and showcasing its rising global clout by expanding its footprint beyond its backyard. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his place.įrom New Delhi’s perspective, Modi’s visit to Papua New Guinea made good sense. President Joe Biden was scheduled to be in Papua New Guinea at the same time but canceled due to the ongoing domestic budget crisis and sent U.S. There, Modi cohosted a summit with Pacific Island nations. India also hosted a G-20 summit on tourism in Indian-administered Kashmir.Īmid all this diplomacy, one event received less attention: Modi’s trip to Papua New Guinea this week, the first time an Indian prime minister had visited the country. This week, Modi visited Australia, one of India’s closest partners and a Quad member. Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Japan for the annual G-7 summit and a meeting of the leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (known as the Quad). It’s been a busy period for India on the world stage.
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