International Opinion Politics

Opinion | The Vishwaguru Paradox

I believe the last eleven years have been the weakest phase for India’s external affairs. There is no polite way to soften this assessment. Our foreign policy lacked clarity, consistency, and strategic depth. It was driven more by optics than outcomes, more by perception than preparation. Situations were misread, priorities confused, and spectacle steadily replaced substance. Choreographed gala events took the place of serious diplomatic engagement, and the cost of that shift is now painfully visible.

 

The Prime Minister has visited 79 countries across 97 foreign trips. That works out to roughly nine visits every year. If we exclude the Covid years when travel was restricted, the average is even higher. This raises a basic question. Why 79 countries. Do we even have meaningful trade, strategic, political, or cultural relationships with so many nations, or was this diplomacy reduced to frequent flying.



In 2013, India’s passport ranked 74 globally. Today it stands at 80. How did these endless visits improve India’s standing or credibility. Did they translate into investments. No. Our ‘Net’ FDI today is an appalling 0.35 billion dollars. This number is not just disappointing. It is humiliating for a country that claims global leadership.

 

Did these visits boost trade or tourism from these countries. There was no visible surge, no structural gain, no long term advantage. If all that came out of it was expenditure of taxpayer money, citizens have every right to ask what India received in return.



Did these relationships strengthen our national security. During Operation Sindoor, how many of these 79 countries stood firmly with India. Instead of support, we were forced to send MPs abroad to explain our position. That fact alone should make us pause and reflect.

 

How many major international initiatives did India initiate or shape during this period. Before the predictable argument is made that previous governments were no better, let me clarify one thing. No earlier Indian government declared itself Vishwaguru. No Prime Minister indulged in chest thumping or constant jingoistic rhetoric. Our words were loud, but outcomes were weak. What was promised and what actually happened on the ground were two very different things. We spoke far more than we delivered.

 

Now we are being asked to concede to American demands and open up our agricultural markets. This will be disastrous for Indian farmers. We already walked away from Iranian crude under pressure. Now, will we dilute our stance on Russian imports because it suits the US. After years of lecturing the nation about sovereignty and self respect, are we now willing to play the role of a compliant junior partner.



And finally, if India joins the two billion dollar ‘Board of Peace’ at the whim of Donald Trump, we will lose the last shred of credibility we possess. We will degrade ourselves and abandon everything India stands for. Including our pride.

 

Foreign policy is not about photo opportunities, slogans, or applause at overseas events. It is about outcomes, alliances, leverage, and national interest. On every one of these counts, India today stands weaker than it did eleven years ago. No number of passport stamps can hide that reality

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