Roving Periscope: Modi 3.0 gets going with Canada, the Maldives, and others
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: A day after beginning his government’s third straight term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his likely External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday started refreshing India’s relations with other countries, especially with Canada and the Maldives with whom New Delhi’s bonhomie took a nosedive in the last few months.
PM Modi expressed his gratitude to several world leaders for their best wishes as he formed the BJP-led NDA government on Sunday.
The Maldivian President, Mohamed Muizzu, who was among the special guests at the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, met with PM Modi later.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his congratulations via a post on X, to which PM Modi responded, “Thank you @CanadianPM for the congratulatory message. India looks forward to working with Canada based on mutual understanding and respect for each other’s concerns.”
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo also congratulated PM Modi, writing: “Warmest congratulations to Prime Minister of India @narendramodi for your third consecutive term as Prime Minister and the formation of a new Government. Looking forward to continuing to expand our relations and work together for the common good and the well-being of our peoples.” PM Modi thanked him saying India looks forward to deepening bilateral relations.
PM Modi also appreciated the greetings from Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and assured a continued close partnership between the two nations in his third term.
Ugandan President Yoweri K Museveni also congratulated PM Modi, emphasizing the shared aspirations between Africa and India.
“The people of Africa share common aspirations and goals with Indians. When India won her independence in 1947, Africans were inspired to fight and overthrow the yoke of colonialism. Today, all of Africa enjoys political freedom,” said Museveni, adding that Uganda views India as a “strategic ally” and looks forward to strengthening bilateral relations.
PM Modi thanked Museveni, highlighting the strong partnership and the significance of the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency in September 2023.
Hamid Karzai, the former President of The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, also congratulated PM Modi for retaining the post for the third time. Extending his best wishes, he expressed confidence in PM Modi’s leadership and India’s progress. The PM thanked Karzai for his warm wishes.
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, also congratulated PM Modi on X.
“Congratulations to @narendramodi on winning a third term as Prime Minister. You have strengthened India’s position as a source of innovation for global progress in sectors like health, agriculture, women-led development, and digital transformation. Look forward to a continued partnership to enhance the lives of people across India and the world,” Gates wrote.
PM Modi thanked Gates, recalling their recent conversation and expressing optimism about their partnership driving innovation in governance, healthcare, climate change, and sustainable development.
While the formal announcement of portfolios of the Council of Ministers in the new BJP-led NDA government is awaited, Dr. S Jaishankar, who was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister on Sunday, met leaders from the Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bhutan, and Nepal on Monday, to discuss strengthening of bilateral ties.
