Desiring India's Ascendancy Over China as a Leader in the Free World: Former Australian PM

Synopsis

Former Australian PM Tony Abbott expresses his desire for India to surpass China as a leader in critical supply chains and become a prominent force in the free world. He highlights PM Modi's leadership and India's vital role in democracy, advocating for millet promotion as part of a healthy and sustainable future.

Key Takeaways

Abbott applauds PM Modi's leadership.
India's role in global supply chains is pivotal.
Importance of democracy and the rule of law.
The Raisina Dialogue fosters genuine global discourse.
Promotion of millets as a superfood is essential.

New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) Applauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and the nation's growth over the past decade, former Australian PM Tony Abbott expressed on Tuesday his desire to see India surpass China as a pivotal leader in critical supply chains and emerge as one of the true leaders of the free world.

Abbott, attending the Raisina Dialogue 2025 in India, shared insights exclusively with IANS on topics such as the India-Australia partnership.

"I hope that my presence here will bolster the ongoing strengthening of relations between Australia and India. These relations have always been positive but may have been somewhat underdeveloped in the past. I look forward to their robust development in the coming years and decades," the former Australian PM told IANS.

Regarding India's advancement under PM Modi, Abbott outlined his expectations for New Delhi's future role.

"My aspirations are twofold. Firstly, I hope India can replace China in the democracy's critical supply chains. Secondly, I envision India becoming one of the genuine leaders of the free world over time, as it has shown a steadfast commitment to democracy and the rule of law. I believe India can and should align with fellow democracies against the dictatorships that threaten freedom globally," he remarked.

Abbott also commended the Raisina Dialogue, referring to it as one of the few genuinely global forums that offer a wide array of perspectives and a platform for authentic debate.

Previously, the former Australian PM praised PM Modi's initiatives and India's leadership in revitalizing traditional grains and advocating their global use.

"I am delighted to visit the millet centre at PM Modi's invitation. I commend him for prioritizing millet promotion as part of his efforts to uplift the people of India. I must admit, I was not well-acquainted with millets. In Australia, we typically consume wheat and rice, but the various millet dishes I tried were delectable. Most importantly, they are quite healthy," Abbott stated after exploring India's endeavors in promoting Shree Anna (millets) as a sustainable and nutritious food source at the NAFED Millet Experience Centre in New Delhi's Dilli Haat.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Abbott expressed hope for a similar awareness program regarding millets in Australia due to their environmental benefits and health advantages. He emphasized that millets are the superfood for a super country.