Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on Wednesday for three-day diplomatic trip to Thailand and Sri Lanka to strengthen regional cooperation and bilateral ties. The visit is his first meeting with Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Disanayake and includes important talks at the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
In Thailand, PM Modi will have bilateral talks with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in which special focus will be given to cultural and economic exchanges. The supply of food grain trucks has allowed part of the economy recently devastated by pandemic shutdowns to begin a recovery. “BIMSTEC is very important for the development of the Bay of Bengal,” Modi said before leaving, highlighting India’s North East as a key strategic location for the bloc.
Disputes also surround possibility of meeting Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus due to political concerns. But Modi sounded hopeful of stronger partnerships.
His next outing is Sri Lanka, which he will visit on April 4-5 with the objective of reinforcing bilateral promises resume following President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India in December last year. Colombo has said no tolerance for anti-India activity on its territory and thus boosting closer security cooperation.
Analysts see this tour as a move to balance China’s influence in the region while pushing India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy. With economic and security agendas on high priority, Modi’s undertakings may pose a challenge to South Asian geopolitics.
