Why in news?
Prime Minister is visiting Russia, France, Germany and Spain.
What is the importance?
- It provides an opportunity to recalibrate India’s approach to European geopolitics.
- The current uncertainty in the relations between America, China and Russia demands that India move closer to the European middle powers i.e France and Germany.
- Delhi must also devote more attention to countries like Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Poland etc.
Why it is necessary to engage with Europe?
- India’s long-standing faith in Russia as the most reliable international partner has been shaken by Moscow’s deepening alliance with Beijing and its political flirtation with Pakistan.
- With Beijing increasingly constraining India’s regional and global space, the fragility of the Delhi-Moscow bond has become exposed.
- PM needs to arrest the growing drift in relations with Russia and intensify the engagement with Europe.
- As Russia turns to China and vacates a key position in India’s strategic matrix, Delhi must begin to explore the European option.
- After Brexit, UK is in the verge of financial uncertainty.
- President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies promise great uncertainty in Washington’s engagement with Eurasia.
- Making matters worse are potential wild oscillations in US policy towards Russia and China.
- The Europeans fear that Trump might abandon them in favour of a deal with Russia at precisely the moment Moscow is viewed as a threat in European capitals.
- During his trip to Europe, PM can take the first steps towards the construction of a similar middle power coalition on the western edge of the Eurasian landmass.
Source: The Indian Expres
