In the first 50 days of the second term in office, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi made it amply clear that his government’s focus onforeign policy, with regard to neighbours as well as others, would remainintact. The first indication of the same could be seen when Narendra Modi wassworn in as the Prime Minister for second term. He invited leaders of Bay ofBengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation(BIMSTEC) nations to attend the swearing-in ceremony. This was a slightdeparture from the invitation extended to South Asian Association for RegionalCooperation (SAARC) nations, which included Pakistan.Following the swearing-inceremony, Prime Minister Modi also went on a visit to the Maldives during whichhe reached out to the neighbouring country, which has been a sought-aftertourist destination for Indian nationals.

The Maldives also reciprocated the gesture by conferring thecountry’s highest civilian honour for foreign nationals, the Order of NishanIzzuddeen, on the Prime Minister.After the Maldives, Prime Minister Modi headerto Sri Lanka. He became the first world leader to visit the shrine of StAnthony, which was recently attacked by terrorists. Referring to the Easterbombing in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Modi expressed solidarity with theimportant maritime neighbour.

The Prime Minister engaged with several political leaders ofthe country during his visit. He held meetings with Sri Lankan PresidentMaithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former presidentMahinda Rajapaksa and other leaders of Tamil parties.

During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit inKyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Modi engaged with leaders of member nations. ThePrime Minister advocated the need for strong cooperation and action against themenace of terrorism. A bilateral meeting also took place between the PrimeMinister and Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. The Prime Minister alsoengaged in wide-scale engagement with several world leaders during the G-20summit in Japan.

The foreign policy initiatives of the Prime Minister did notstop there. Even back home, he welcomed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeowherein he articulated India’s stand on trade, terrorism and other issues.