With India election results out, packed diplomatic engagements lie ahead

With Indian general election results announced, and NDA crossing the majority mark, focus will be on govt formation in the next few days followed by a packed diplomatic agenda. Preparations for the oath-taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan are already underway, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to take office for another term. Global leaders have been quick to extend their congratulations to PM Modi and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Among the countries sending their wishes to PM Modiand the NDA alliance are Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Italy, Singapore, Barbados, and Jamaica. In countries likeSri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal political leaders, cutting across party lines, have sent congratulations to PM Modi.

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The US stopped short of sending congratulations given the results were not fully announced by Tuesday evening. State department spokesperson said that they will "wait for the finalisation of those election results before we offer any definitive comment" but commended "the Government of India and voters there for successfully completing and participating in such a massive electoral undertaking". The state dept also said it expects "continued close partnership between the United States and India" under the new Indian govt.

Diplomatic attention will now shift towards the inauguration ceremony, where foreign leaders are expected to be invited. Historically, PM Modi has invited global leaders to attend his swearing-in ceremonies. In 2014, SAARC countries were invited, while in 2019, the BIMSTEC countries graced the occasion. The upcoming inauguration might see a similar diplomatic outreach, reflecting India’s strategic engagements.

One of PM Modi’s first international visits after assuming office is likely to be to Italywhere India has been invited to participate in the G7 summit. This invitation is part of a continuing tradition, as Modi has been a regular invitee since 2019, starting with an invitation from France. He attended the G7 summit virtually in the UK in 2021 due to the pandemic, followed by in-person summits in Germany in 2022, Japan in 2023, and now Italy next in line. The G7 summit in 2020 could not materialise due to the COVID-19 crisis, which was to be hosted by then-US president Donald Trump. Italian G7 host, PM Meloni was quick to congratulate PM Modi for his victory. She is the first western leader and G7 leader to wish PM Modi.

Parliamentary conventions dictate that the Prime Minister must prove his majority in Parliament, which will be a priority before fully engaging in foreign policy commitments. As for the upcoming Swiss Peace Summit, it is unlikely that PM Modi will attend; instead, India is expected to send an official representative.

Kazakhstan will be a significant focus as it hosts the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the first week of July. PM Modi will share the stage with leaders from Russia, Pakistan, China, and Central Asian countries, marking a crucial diplomatic engagement amid regional geopolitical dynamics.

Key visits for the Indian Prime Minister in 2024 include the ASEAN/BRICS Summit in October and the G20 Summit in November. Additional important engagements are the Annual India-Japan Summit, the India-Africa Summit, and the India-Nordic Summit. Russia, as the current chair of the BRICS group, will host the Foreign Ministers' meeting next week, with Indian participation expected given New Delhi's key role in the grouping.