Modi and Putin

One thing is clear that the global world order is witnessing drastic change. With people posing faith in strong national leadership there is a need to revisit the reasons for this development. Cold war had divided the world into two blocs- Capitalist and Communist. It allowed the developing nations little scope to choose the group they want to be linked with. With the dismemberment of the USSR, the world witnessed a geo-political situation that was perhaps unprecedented and peculiar. It allowed the US to enjoy undisputed strategic supremacy for decades. But that too has undergone a change. The turbulence of the global economic order was also accompanied by the dismantling of the USSR. As it also witnessed an era of open economy that led to globalization thus leading to a new economic model, that paved the way for liberalization. An even economic space allowed the developing nations and small economies to participate in the unfolding of a new socio-economic and geo- strategic order. It is in this context that we must analyse the present global order. Old geo- strategic models are witnessing decay. It can be gauged from the emergence of India as the most trustworthy economy not only in Asia but the entire world. The years of cold war and its aftermath led to brain-drain towards US from India. But now there is a reverse brain-drain from US and other countries to India. It has not been made possible in a day. A variety of reasons have shaped this change. Most significant being the strong leadership. After witnessing a fractured mandate for decades India could see the formation of a government that was based on a decisive mandate. From 2014 till date India has proved that it knows the value of resolute leadership when national resurgence is the objective. Emergence of Narendra Modi as the leader who has no competition when it comes to leading the nation is a forgone conclusion that can be gauged from the mood of the nation. People are evaluating the national leadership in various ways that includes the foreign policy, internal security and concern for the national security. Modi has proven that he can deliver on all these fronts. Emergence of strong leadership in Modi has led to cumulative impact on the credibility of India with nations taking India seriously. This phenomenon of strong leadership is not confined only to India but can be witnessed in Russia where Vladimir Putin has been rewarded with the presidency for the fifth consecutive time. His role in shaping the destiny of Russia after the dismemberment of USSR is a unique model of resurgent leadership. He has enabled Russia to be self-sufficient and restore its supremacy in the strategic order. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict has made Putin stronger. West and especially US has failed to browbeat him as they could not make him budge under pressure. His conviction and confidence to chalk the path of Russian empowerment has paid dividends. It must be said that Putin has ended the despondency that prevailed in Russia after the end of the cold war. He reprimanded to US that any landing of NATO or US Forces in Ukraine will be taken as an act of war against Russia inviting the nuclear war. This makes it clear that Russia has made this statement after cost benefit analysis. Putin has not stopped here. He has indicated that interference of West in Ukraine will lead to Third World War. These statements indicate many things and most importantly the World order is undergoing the drastic change with Modi and Putin refining it. If Lok Sabha mandate for 2024 leads to the victory of BJP led NDA ensuring the third term for Modi then it will surely change the political complexion and role of India in geo-politics.