Modi has attained a 'global importance' of course ... but PM should be cautious about western snobs and their unpredictability ... Trump tantrums could be only forewarning to India

PM Narendra Modi discusses end of Russia-Ukraine war with French president Emmanuel Macron 

Point is well taken.  However, outside the 'charmed circle of the west' – the US has always preferred clients and not allies. Here comes one-liner in a London-based newspaper and it says rather acidly:

"The fact is, India isn’t rich enough or white enough or English-speaking enough to be a charter member of either the west or the anglophone world".

This may sound pessimistic, but to be careful is always good in diplomacy and strategy planning.  

We have started to believe that Donald Trump is a maverick. We also believe the Indo-US relationship is too important for both -- on two necessary fronts the economics and geopolitics. 

So the refrain -- the cold vibes may not stay long.

But there is a counter argument that Donald Trump is 'ahead of the curve' and could it be possible that what he is saying loud ... a few other western leaders are still too constrained. 

But our optimism should not be ignored either.

India has emerged as an 'alternative diplomatic' channel for the West, especially after Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged New Delhi's role in promoting peace during the recently-concluded SCO summit in China.

In fact, Ukraine president Zelenskyy also spoke to Modi the day the Indian PM had landed in China. 

Describing their discussion, Zelenskyy called it a “productive and important conversation” aimed at achieving “real peace.”

Macron's tweet was important:

"I just spoke with Prime Minister @NarendraModi. I presented him the outcome of the work we carried out with President Zelenskky and our partners of the Coalition of the Willing last Thursday in Paris. India and France share the same determination to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Building on our friendship and our strategic partnership, we will continue moving forward together to trace this path toward peace."

PM Modi in his missive said --  

"We reviewed and positively assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation in various areas. Exchanged views on international and regional issues, including efforts for bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine. 

The India-France Strategic Partnership will continue to play a key role in fostering global peace and stability." 

Notably after his meeting with Modi in China Putin revealed, 

"There is no secret. I told him what we (Putin and Trump) talked about in Alaska."

But what's Gaza and how it can be 'lesson' by itself :  

China might have multiple issues with India. Russia too may have limitations at times. But the western lots are pure snobs and selfish put together.

Western benevolence has always been predicated on western hegemony. 

Once the climate crisis and China’s rise made it clear that the west’s supremacy wasn’t future-proofed; .... their games changed. You might have noticed how western centrists have begun to secede from the world order they had created in their pomp. 

"Gaza is the sum of this secession," argues the article in 'The Guardian'.  

BRICS - remains vital 

New Delhi has some inherent constraints.

"It can’t square up to the US, as China does, as an equal. 

Nor can it kowtow to Trump as the EU has, like a client looking for protection. India will continue to walk a tightrope, teetering this way then that, as it negotiates a hostile world under the watchful eyes of its vulnerable people," says historian Mukul Kesavan.  

Jordan Bardella is a French leader and is a new face of 'far right'.

Nigel Farage is a far right UK leader and Viktor Orbán is prime minister of Hungary. They all have two things common with Trump. They are white or are westerns and they prefer nativism and protectionism.

The coming years may not be all that 'democratic and open' in the west.  

The sum and substance of the story is India should not turn/tilt towards the west the manner it did last 20-25 years.

India’s political class began to see the US as New Delhi's natural partner. 

The US became the main destination of India’s exports and also the aspirational destination for elites. 

The Indo-US nuclear deal was a new thing. Then during Modi regime in 201 came the Quad, a grouping of the US, Japan, India and Australia. 

But these western tilts -- actually suit the US and fixed its agenda. 

New Delhi has turned sentimental for nothing. 

ends