Opinion Delhi’s resolve stood out as others buckled
From “car diplomacy” with President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan to Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed personally escorting Modi, and Bhutan’s King receiving him on the tarmac, these moments underscored relationships rooted in trust and genuine goodwill
This workshop must look at terror threats, security infrastructure, including cyber threats, amenities, allowances and facilities for the MPs
The year 2025 proved to be one of the busiest and most consequential for PM Narendra Modi and India, marked by outreach to 23 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. These engagements delivered tangible diplomatic, economic and strategic outcomes. Consolidation of ties with the Maldives and other Global South partners was complemented by diversified strategic partnerships, notably with the UK and the EU. A palpable thaw stabilised India-China relations, bringing them out of the trough following the Galwan clash in 2020. PM Modi’s meetings in 2025 with Canadian PM Mark Carney during the G7 and G20 summits ensured that the year ended with a renewal of ties between the two democracies.
Modi’s stature rose tangibly amid global trade volatility. His resolve in the face of President Donald Trump’s tariff war stood out, even as others buckled under pressure. By protecting the interests of Indian farmers and small businesses, Modi’s “Nation First” approach signalled that Bharat would not accept inequitable trade arrangements.
With GDP growth forecast at around 7.3 per cent for FY 2025-26, following a robust 8.2 per cent real growth in Q2, India remained among the world’s fastest-growing major economies. Landmark GST reforms, rising consumer demand, industrial and manufacturing stimulus, implementation of the four labour codes and wide-ranging deregulation provided renewed momentum. The emphasis remained on building a knowledge-based, atmanirbhar economy, with digital infrastructure, semiconductors, AI and advanced manufacturing emerging as core priorities.
Following the horrific Pahalgam terror attack in April, India launched Operation Sindoor — a precisely calibrated yet devastatingly effective response that destroyed terror infrastructure deep inside enemy territory. By suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and declaring that “blood and water cannot flow together”, Modi established a new normal in India’s zero-tolerance doctrine on terrorism. Nations expressed understanding of India’s sovereign right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism. This writer observed it first hand when he visited the UAE, D R Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia as a member of the all-party delegations.
During the year, Modi received an unprecedented 29 international honours, including top civilian awards from Barbados, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Cyprus, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Namibia, Ethiopia and Oman. As before, he dedicated these awards to India’s 1.4 billion citizens.
Strategic trade negotiations further strengthened India’s economy. The India-UK CETA and India-Oman CEPA expanded access to Western and Gulf markets, while the TEPA with EFTA nations marked India’s first FTA with developed European economies, backed by a binding $100-billion investment commitment on their part. India also finalised an FTA with New Zealand. Advanced negotiations with the EU, Canada, Israel, Mexico and GCC countries collectively reduced uncertainty and reinforced confidence in India’s upward economic trajectory.
The year also witnessed rare personal gestures — from “car diplomacy” with President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan to Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed personally escorting Modi, and Bhutan’s King receiving him on the tarmac.
All in all, 2025 has proved to be a defining moment in India’s journey as a confident and rising nation, and Modi’s own, as its most visible embodiment.
The writer is director general of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Views are personal
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