Modi’s Grand Diplomacy: How Image-Building Became India’s Greatest Strategic Risk

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Representational image: Public domain.
Modi’s pursuit of the “Vishwaguru” ideal is a costly distraction from the difficult but necessary work of securing India’s position in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world.

At the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping sat down for a much-anticipated meeting. Against the backdrop of rising regional tensions, particularly along the contested India-China border, and Trump’s tariffs, the summit promised to offer an opportunity to mend frayed relations between the two Asian giants.

In theory, this was an occasion for dialogue and de-escalation. In practice, however, it reflects a broader diplomatic approach that characterises Modi’s tenure, which increasingly prioritises public relations over strategic substance.



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