The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released its 2024 Annual Report on Friday, highlighting India’s dynamic and pragmatic foreign policy approach, which significantly advanced national interests and elevated the country’s global standing amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.
The report describes India’s foreign engagements in 2024 as marked by “vibrancy and pragmatism,” with a strong focus on strategic autonomy, global governance reforms, and advocacy for the Global South. It reflects a year of intensive bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral diplomacy, including leadership roles in major forums like the UN, G20, G7, BRICS, SCO, and the Quad.
Key Diplomatic Highlights:
- Continued G20 Leadership: Building on its G20 presidency in 2023, India worked with Brazil under the G20 Troika (India-Brazil-South Africa), supporting priorities such as social inclusion, energy transition, and multilateral reforms.
- Global South Engagement: India hosted the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit, with participation from 123 countries and 173 dignitaries. PM Modi proposed a “Global Development Compact” focusing on trade, technology, capacity building, and financial support for sustainable development.
- PM Modi’s Global Outreach: The Prime Minister attended the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro and participated in the G7 Outreach Session in Italy. His addresses emphasized a human-centric approach to technology, especially AI for All, and stressed the inclusion of the Global South in global discourse.
- Humanitarian Diplomacy: India undertook three major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions:
- Operation Indravati in Haiti to evacuate Indians amid civil unrest.
- Kuwait Humanitarian Airlift to repatriate the mortal remains of 45 Indian nationals.
- Operation Sadbhav in Myanmar following severe flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi.
Additionally, India extended HADR support to over 20 countries and provided life-saving medicines and aid to conflict zones in West Asia, including Syria and Palestine.
- Counterterrorism and FATF Compliance: India enhanced global cooperation in counterterrorism through working groups with partners like France, Kazakhstan, Australia, and the Quad. The FATF Plenary in Singapore concluded India had achieved a high level of technical compliance in anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing efforts.
- Strategic Partnerships: The report highlights deepening ties with key partners. PM Modi held bilateral talks with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to strengthen the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.
- Global Rescue Efforts: India rescued nine crew members, including eight Indians, in a joint operation with Oman from a capsized vessel, MT Prestige Falcon, off the Omani coast.
Throughout 2024, India’s foreign policy focused on:
- Promoting a rules-based international order,
- Strengthening strategic autonomy,
- Leading on climate action, technology governance, and inclusive development, and
- Advocating for the reform of multilateral institutions to better reflect the interests of developing nations.
The MEA report concludes by underlining India’s growing influence and recognition as a responsible global actor, a first responder in crises, and a voice for the Global South, as it continues to shape a more equitable world order.