This story is from February 1, 2015

‘Modi scoring with soft power diplomacy’

Though seven months is not a long period in the history of a nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made clear his intentions to strengthen foreign policy right from the day of his swearing in, helping improve India’s global standing, retired diplomat Amit Dasgupta said here on Saturday.
‘Modi scoring with soft power diplomacy’
VISAKHAPATNAM: Though seven months is not a long period in the history of a nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made clear his intentions to strengthen foreign policy right from the day of his swearing in, helping improve India’s global standing, retired diplomat Amit Dasgupta said here on Saturday.
Delivering a lecture on ‘PM Modi’s soft power diplomacy: Challenges to India’s foreign policy’ at Gitam University on Saturday, said the PM made it clear to the neighbouring governments what was acceptable to India and at the same time made leaders of Saarc countries feel united as a region.

Pointing out that PM Modi has put soft power or public diplomacy to optimal use, Dasgupta said that instances of this are evident from Modi’s visit to the US and Australia, when he reached out to the Indian diaspora there by showing the international community the popularity he enjoys among them.
Dasgupta also said that the personal equation the PM has built with US president Barack Obama is another example of taking diplomacy to the next level. He said China’s reaction, which said that joining hands with the US wasn’t good for India’s health, shows the insecurity among the Chinese. “India is becoming close to the US, but has also made it clear that it will not abandon Russia,” he said, adding the move will be an advantage for India. Dasgupta said this development sends out a clear message to the Chinese, that India will do what is good for itself.
“India has a series of challenges in the neighbourhood,” he said, explaining that some of recent developments such as the regime change in Sri Lanka and falling oil prices are in India’s favour.
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