Manmohan Singh: Architect of India’s Diplomatic Rise

On Thursday, December 26, 2024, former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, passed away at the age of 92 after being admitted to the emergency ward at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He served as Prime Minister for two terms from 2004 to 2014, leading a Congress-led government. Prior to this, he was India’s Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996 under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s administration.

In the 1990s, India’s global diplomacy underwent a profound transformation, influenced by two major decisions: the liberalization of the Indian economy in 1991, a process led by then-Finance Minister Manmohan Singh. Let us now reflect on the foreign and diplomatic policies in which he played a pivotal role.

The Nuclear Deal

Although primarily known for his work in economics and finance, Manmohan Singh had a deep interest in foreign affairs, which became a focus when he became Prime Minister in 2004. Continuing the course set by the Vajpayee government after the 1998 nuclear tests, Singh played a crucial role in positioning India as a responsible nuclear power.

One of his key achievements was securing the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) clearance for civil nuclear cooperation, particularly with the United States. The civil nuclear agreement with the US was a landmark moment for India, supported by President APJ Abdul Kalam. The groundwork laid by Singh and his team, including S. Jaishankar, played a critical role in ensuring India’s entry into the global nuclear order.

Diplomatic Policy

Manmohan Singh continued the “greater engagement” policy initiated by Vajpayee, which remains central to India’s foreign policy today. This approach marked a shift from the earlier non-alignment stance, positioning India in a multi-polar world, a departure from the Cold War-era bi-polar system dominated by the US and Russia.

Manmohan Singh’s foreign policy emphasised strong ties with the US, Russia, China, and Pakistan—countries considered crucial to India’s diplomatic strategy at the time. His government worked to build on these relationships, despite the challenges posed by events like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Other Noteworthy Contributions 

Under the leadership of Manmohan Singh, India’s relationship with Russia deepened, and ties with Japan were elevated to a strategic partnership. His government also built on India’s ‘Look East’ policy, evolving it into the ‘Act East’ strategy, which continues to guide India’s engagement with the Asia-Pacific region.

Singh’s government made significant strides in strengthening India’s ties with Africa and Latin America, laying the groundwork for India’s role as a leading voice of the Global South, a position further developed by Prime Minister Modi after 2014.

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