SS: Toru Takahashi writing for Nikkei Asia says India’s “neighborhood-first” policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, designed to counter China’s growing influence in South Asia, is unraveling due to diplomatic missteps and increasing resentment among its neighbors. Takahashi highlights Sri Lanka’s political shift with the election of antiestablishment leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a symbol of uncertainty for India’s regional aspirations, especially with anti-Indian sentiment still strong. Meanwhile, countries like the Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan have increasingly aligned with China or other adversarial powers, leaving India isolated. Takahashi argues that India’s failure to balance its diplomatic engagements, compounded by perceptions of arrogance and limited resources compared to China, has contributed to its dwindling regional influence. Despite India’s efforts to expand its global reach through the Global South initiative and cooperation with ASEAN, Takahashi notes that its diminishing leverage and internal challenges have led experts to question the effectiveness of Modi’s foreign policy.
Additional context: Things seem to have turned around in the Maldives, where President Mohamed Muizzu, after his recent visit to New Delhi, agreed to allow India to deploy “[defence platforms and assets](https://np.reddit.com/r/GeopoliticsIndia/comments/1fywula/muizzu_agrees_to_let_india_deploy_defence/)” after securing substantive financial assistance. Furthermore, in my view, India’s post-independence foreign policy toward its immediate neighbourhood, and even in Southeast Asia, has long been perceived as arrogant. It’s a perception that remains unchanged.
India just looks after itself. It’s why India ignores the oppression of the Ukrainians and happily buys from Russia at low prices.
u/edward_droger made a lot of great points so please read his comment!
In addition, Afghanistan also has a positive relation with PM Modi and the BJP government
India has invested billions in Afghanistan’s infrastructive, including building a dam and a hospital
Multiple Indian youtubers have made videos of them visiting Afghanistan and being given a royal welcome, with local Afghans insisting on buying them tea and food and hugging them and calling them brothers
It helps that Afghans are huge fans of Indian movies
Afghanistan has this approach “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and since they consider the Pakistani govt to be their enemy, especially after Pakistan forced many Afghans off Pakistan, they also consider India to be their friend
Finally, while not specifically in South Asia, India has several allies in Asia such as Japan, the Phillippines, Vietnam etc. which help it counter the big bully of Asia aka China
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SS: Toru Takahashi writing for Nikkei Asia says India’s “neighborhood-first” policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, designed to counter China’s growing influence in South Asia, is unraveling due to diplomatic missteps and increasing resentment among its neighbors. Takahashi highlights Sri Lanka’s political shift with the election of antiestablishment leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a symbol of uncertainty for India’s regional aspirations, especially with anti-Indian sentiment still strong. Meanwhile, countries like the Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan have increasingly aligned with China or other adversarial powers, leaving India isolated. Takahashi argues that India’s failure to balance its diplomatic engagements, compounded by perceptions of arrogance and limited resources compared to China, has contributed to its dwindling regional influence. Despite India’s efforts to expand its global reach through the Global South initiative and cooperation with ASEAN, Takahashi notes that its diminishing leverage and internal challenges have led experts to question the effectiveness of Modi’s foreign policy.
Archive: [https://archive.is/wwfFl](https://archive.is/wwfFl) (paywall removed)
Additional context: Things seem to have turned around in the Maldives, where President Mohamed Muizzu, after his recent visit to New Delhi, agreed to allow India to deploy “[defence platforms and assets](https://np.reddit.com/r/GeopoliticsIndia/comments/1fywula/muizzu_agrees_to_let_india_deploy_defence/)” after securing substantive financial assistance. Furthermore, in my view, India’s post-independence foreign policy toward its immediate neighbourhood, and even in Southeast Asia, has long been perceived as arrogant. It’s a perception that remains unchanged.
India just looks after itself. It’s why India ignores the oppression of the Ukrainians and happily buys from Russia at low prices.
u/edward_droger made a lot of great points so please read his comment!
In addition, Afghanistan also has a positive relation with PM Modi and the BJP government
India has invested billions in Afghanistan’s infrastructive, including building a dam and a hospital
Multiple Indian youtubers have made videos of them visiting Afghanistan and being given a royal welcome, with local Afghans insisting on buying them tea and food and hugging them and calling them brothers
It helps that Afghans are huge fans of Indian movies
Afghanistan has this approach “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and since they consider the Pakistani govt to be their enemy, especially after Pakistan forced many Afghans off Pakistan, they also consider India to be their friend
Finally, while not specifically in South Asia, India has several allies in Asia such as Japan, the Phillippines, Vietnam etc. which help it counter the big bully of Asia aka China