The prime minister’s tweet, confirming his decision to attend the asean summit virtually, is not in consonance with his nature of using foreign summits as a platform for his display of grandeur, for his domestic audience.
He has rarely missed an asean summit in his entire tenure and might suggest that he values electioneering in Bihar more than crucial foreign summits, but seen together with his denial of an invitation for the Gaza peace declaration in Sharm-al-sheikh earlier this month, it rather seems that he is avoiding any face off with President Trump.
Trump is a blunt and haughty politician who doesn’t mind embarrassing people and his claims of stopping operation sindoor and prime minister’s promise of stopping oil imports from Russia are both discomforting for Mr Modi.
He can deny them in domestic platforms, but can’t call Trump a liar on international stage. He had evaded Trump’s invite in Canada too. Any admission of Trump’s claims, would seriously affect his domestic support base.
In the meantime, the Trump administration has sanctioned two Russian oil exporting companies, involved in exporting oil to reliance industries. Subsequently social media reports suggest, that reliance has decided to honor these sanctions.
This can have devastating consequences for reliance industries profits, which may spill over into our polity.
Indian foreign policy no longer seems independent enough, and the government has to reply for it.
