The 2020s from viewing television and mainstream press have often left sour impressions for many Indians towards neighbouring countries with oversimplified portrayals of their complex political backgrounds and powers.
Three of the most significant examples included Nepal with then prime minister K.P Sharma Oli in 2020 making the news after his provocative approval of a new map that included territories in Uttarakhand belonging to Nepal situated along the Chinese border that escalated in a diplomatic row, and Sri lanka where the drainage of forex reserves and an economic crisis between 2019 to 2023 has been credited to a widely disputed Chinese debt trap policy between academics, and by the end of 2023.
Recently emerged a diplomatic row with the Maldivian government where 3 ministers were suspended for aderogatory posts on the prime minister, leading to many celebrities across India promoting the lakshadweep islands and cancelling holiday trips and what some observers comment as chest-thumping jingoism. Events such as the recent row with the Maldivian government have generated strong emotions amongst netizens, while the Maldivian government distanced itself from the 3 ministers, there also emerged criticisms from opposition parties that the government has poorly managed regional foreign policy citing the #IndiaOut campaign in the Maldives and troll armies that contributed to damaged relations. This can be compared to Nepal in 2015 with the emergence of the #BackoffIndia movement as a result of a border blockade which cripled many people’s lives and irked many governments across the region. And while many recognise the faults a neighbouring country’s government may have, analysts say it doesn’t justify such extreme measures where a population would suffer.
Despite the pessimistic news, previous events, and the anxieties over potential encirclments often expressed by netizens, these are outliers in contrast to the wider public opinions between India and other countries in the region conducted by multiple polling agencies and newspapers indicating that there are still strong relations (excluding Pakistan and China) that have persisted despite regime change and inter-governmental strife. This covers cultural, economic and even humanitarian efforts in between India and neighbouring countries since the anti-colonial era.
When it comes to a political context, knowing how popular narratives often induced with anxiety towards netizens tend to contradict the polls, it is also to be understood that many countries with their populations wish to have balanced relationships between India and China and do not wish for military engagement which often seems to be ignored particularly in netizen and television discourse. These are countries in the end with their own deep political issues and even have been fiercely critical where there were mishaps from their end and something that national politicians should recognise when handling a complex field like foreign policy where even the most minor scope could be viewed as a double standard.
With analysts commenting on a worsening relationship with China being a motivator, it is also made clear that where diplomacy is present, there is the need for maturity that comes with both a human approach, as well as one to consider the circumstances of these countries without overreaction to ensure continuing goodwill.
Picture Credit - https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/at-sea-on-maldives-2859832
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