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.
