Relevance : GS Paper II
Theme of the Article
The invitation list for the swearing-in signals government’s foreign policy focus.
Why has this issue cropped up?
Prime Minister has invited leaders of BIMSTEC to swearing-in ceremony.
What does this invitation indicate?
- “neighbourhood first” policy.
- regional preferences have shifted from SAARC to BIMSTEC
- concern for India’s “Act East” initiative and outreach to East Asia.
- invitation to SCO chairperson indicates commitment to Central Asian grouping
- invitation to Prime Minister of Mauritius indicates close affinity
BIMSTEC and SCO
- India’s engagement with both BIMSTEC and the SCO is at incipient stage.
- BIMSTEC didn’t even have a fully working secretariat until recently.
- BIMSTEC’s deliberations on subregional connectivity have been delayed
- SCO is yet to demonstrate its utility for India..
Conclusion
The attendance at PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony hints towards new avenues of India’s multilateral engagements.
