It might have started a few decades back... India had its potentials .... But under Narendra Modi; Bharat is displaying its new version of Monroe Doctrine

 Once upon a time the US wanted India to be a 'policeman' for the western global power. But that was once upon... a matter of past.

In circa 2025; India wishes to be a policeman on its own behalf. It's a new role. Its being independent. It is more than a just ally.

And hence it is more than a friend.

In essence its coming a long way. 

It is not without good reason that Selig Harrison of the Carnegie Foundation has said in the late 1980s -- 

"We (America) should get out of India's way so that it can assert its natural dominance in the region. India is asserting its version of the Monroe Doctrine and we should respect it".  

The Monroe Doctrine, a cornerstone of US foreign policy, was a statement made by President James Monroe in 1823. It declared that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to European colonization and that any interference with the independence of newly formed nations in the Americas would be considered a hostile act against the US. 

Blogger 

When India was still shy internationally and the economic liberalisation era was not unleashed yet; the popular 'Time' magazine (April 13, 1988) called India a 'Superpower Rising'.

In other words, motivated and equipped, India was already seen to be well qualified to perform efficiently the function apparently envisaged for it. Around the same time it was not without good reason that Henry Kissinger said --

"India will play an increasing international rule ... It will seek to be the strongest country in the sub-continent and will attempt to prevent the emergence of a major power in the Indian Ocean or Southeast Asia". 

The years 2014 marks a new beginning.

When Narendra Modi assumed office, the Opposition Congress and critics started 'underestimated' him. He was called  a Hindu communal leader under whom his native state Gujarat saw anti-Muslim mayhem in 2002.

 

He was labelled a mofusil character and “provincial politician” lacking in foreign policy experience. 

Some thought he would be a new Hindutva version of H D Deve Gowda.

Modi's “Hindu nationalist” background was seen as a potential hindrance to India’s relations, especially with the Islamic world. 

But in the last 11 years, Modi has surprised both detractors and admirers.

His love for slogan chanting was also mocked. But in 2025, looking back one would say Modi's ‘India first’ principle has worked. 

He adopted a pragmatic foreign policy. 

India’s rise as a formidable player in global politics is also largely driven by structural changes in the international order. 

Modi is lucky in more ways than one. For domestic politics, he is blessed to have Rahul Gandhi as his principal opponent. The principal opposition party thus is unable to pose any challenge to PM Modi.

But Narendra Modi is also lucky as his stint coincided with the drastic "shifting in balance of power".

The disillusionment with China in the West and especially for the US have turned global attention to India and automatically to Modi.

In 2005, the US had declined him Visa.  Some years later, Barack Obama received him at the White House with 'kem chho' salutation.

Today, India is world’s fastest growing large economy. Favourable demographics, its appeal as an alternative to China, and its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific have fetched in dividends.

"What has also changed is New Delhi’s growing willingness to be more proactive on the global stage, in line with its aim of taking on the role of a rule-shaper rather than a mere rule-taker," runs an article in orfonline.org.

One may talk theoretically or even otherwise, if it be a country of India's size and resources, it does have enough energy and power for the talks on both international and domestic domains. New Delhi can exert today the hallmarks of moral stature. 

Thus when it still takes oil from Russia notwithstanding the western push to stop it; India's minister Dr S Jaishankar can take the liberty of arguing eloquently in defend of the national policy.

"We are not neutral...". It is no coincidence that around the same time; PM Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin -- "this is not the era of war". 

Now that's a global theme. 

These show more than just 'power'. They are the currency of glory and the much needed neo-confidence.

It is no coincidence that India has greater power than we have ever had before and also gives a currency or leverage to pull strings.

As a result, today, the world hears the 'voice of a responsible' stakeholder which, despite being steadfast in its own ethos, value, and principles, will not shirk its global commitments, runs the orfonline article.

In 2020 and 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic peaked in South Asia, New Delhi led the way in shaping the response.  

India supplied vaccines to 99 nations and medicines to 150 of them during the COVID pandemic. 

ends