Narendra Modi
Pressed Putin on Ukraine and Pezeshkian on diplomacy at the SCO summit in Bishkek; elevated Uzbekistan ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with 11 agreements including long-term uranium supply. Hosts BRICS summit in New Delhi Sept 12-13.
Narendra Modi is wrapping up a four-day Central Asia tour that has become a vehicle for twin peace interventions. At the SCO summit in Bishkek on Aug 31, he told Putin that "every day of war sets humanity back" and urged moving "away from endless war towards an end to the war" on Ukraine, while reviewing energy, space, and fertilizer security with the Russian president. In a separate sideline meeting, Iran's Pezeshkian asked Modi to use his international contacts to steer the US away from military force; Modi expressed concern over West Asia instability, pressed for diplomacy, and discussed expanding trade through the Strait of Hormuz and Chabahar port. He invited both leaders to the BRICS summit he hosts in New Delhi on Sept 12-13.
The tour began in Tashkent, Modi's first state visit to Uzbekistan in 11 years. He and President Mirziyoyev elevated relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signing 11 agreements: long-term uranium supply for India's civilian nuclear program, a $5 billion trade target by 2030, UPI rollout in Uzbekistan, visa-free travel for Indians, and defence co-production. Modi received Uzbekistan's highest state honour. He also met Kyrgyz President Japarov and Armenian PM Pashinyan on defence and pharma cooperation, and is scheduled to visit Kyrgyzstan, where Investment Minister Sabirov plans to pitch renewable energy and infrastructure to Indian investors.
Domestically, Modi's approval stands at 49% (down from 55% in January), still making him the top choice for PM against Rahul Gandhi at 27%. The slide is tied to youth-unemployment protests, corruption concerns, and the Ram Temple donation-theft scandal. After protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party, Modi forgave the youth as "misguided" but condemned female protesters' language as a "cultural shock," language activists say BJP social-media operatives weaponised through trolling and rape threats. BJP President Nitin Nabin has launched a national youth outreach plan targeting seven state polls and the 2029 general election, with recommendations due Sept 10.
Modi's broader diplomatic offensive spans 20-plus countries since August 2025, hedging against Trump's 25% global tariffs and Russia-oil penalties. It has secured German submarine tech, South Korean shipbuilding aid, and an EU FTA. Defence export reforms after a record FY25-26 (Rs 1.78 lakh crore production, Rs 38,424 crore exports) consolidated three export-licence SOPs into one with three-year validity. Belgian PM Bart De Wever arrives Sept 3 for talks on the India-EU FTA and semiconductor cooperation.
A Pew survey across 36 countries shows India's global image declining (45% median favorable), with the US at 50% unfavorable, tied to concerns over Hindu nationalism, cyber scams, and internet shutdowns. Meanwhile, the Viksit Bharat 2047 target faces a growth gap: NITI Aayog's Lahiri calculates India needs 9.25% annual growth for 21 years against the current 7.3%, with manufacturing stalled at 16-17% of GDP and 87 million youth neither working nor studying.
On their plate
Modi completed a four-day Central Asia tour (Aug 29-Sept 1), starting with the first Indian PM state visit to Tashkent in 11 years. He and Uzbek President Mirziyoyev signed 11 agreements including long-term uranium supply, a $5 billion trade target by 2030, UPI rollout, visa-free travel, and defence co-production. At the SCO summit in Bishkek he met Putin, Kyrgyz President Japarov, Armenian PM Pashinyan, and Iran's Pezeshkian, framing India's vision around Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
At the SCO summit Modi pressed Putin to move toward ending the Ukraine war, telling him every day of war sets humanity back, while also urging Pezeshkian to pursue diplomacy amid the US-Iran conflict. Pezeshkian asked Modi to use his international contacts to steer the US away from military force. Modi discussed expanding trade via the Strait of Hormuz and Chabahar port and invited both leaders to the New Delhi BRICS summit Sept 12-13.
Modi's approval has dropped to 49% from 55% in January, weighed down by youth-unemployment protests, corruption concerns, and the Ram Temple donation-theft scandal. After Cockroach Janta Party-led demonstrations, Modi called youth misguided but condemned female protesters' language as a cultural shock, which activists say BJP operatives weaponised through trolling and rape threats. BJP President Nitin Nabin launched a national youth outreach plan targeting seven state polls and the 2029 election, with recommendations due Sept 10.
Since August 2025 Modi has run a diplomatic offensive across 20-plus countries to hedge against Trump's 25% global tariffs and Russia-oil penalties, securing German submarine tech, South Korean shipbuilding aid, and an EU FTA. Belgium's PM De Wever visits New Delhi Sept 3 for FTA and semiconductor talks. Defence export reforms after a record FY25-26 (Rs 1.78 lakh crore production, Rs 38,424 crore exports) consolidated export-licence rules.
Modi's developed-nation-by-2047 vision faces a growth math problem: NITI Aayog's Ashok Kumar Lahiri calculates India needs 9.25% annual growth for 21 years and a sixfold per-capita income rise to $18,000, while actual growth is about 7.3%, manufacturing is stuck at 16-17% of GDP, and 87 million youth are neither working nor studying. A Pew survey across 36 countries shows India's global image declining (45% median favorable), with the US at 50% unfavorable.
Key relationships
Modi met Putin at the SCO summit in Bishkek, pressing him to end the Ukraine war while Putin praised the India-Russia strategic partnership. They reviewed energy, space, and fertilizer security cooperation.
Iranian President Pezeshkian met Modi at the SCO summit and urged him to use his international contacts to steer the US away from military force. Modi expressed concern over West Asia instability, urged diplomacy, and discussed trade via Chabahar port and the Strait of Hormuz, inviting Pezeshkian to the BRICS summit.
Modi and Uzbek President Mirziyoyev elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signing 11 agreements including long-term uranium supply, a $5 billion trade target, UPI rollout, visa-free travel, and defence co-production. Mirziyoyev conferred Uzbekistan's highest state honour on Modi.
Belgian PM Bart De Wever will hold bilateral talks with Modi on Sept 3 in New Delhi, focused on the India-EU FTA and defence and semiconductor cooperation.
BJP President Nitin Nabin launched a national youth outreach plan targeting seven state assembly polls and the 2029 general election, integrating the Modi@25 anniversary campaign, with recommendations due Sept 10.
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