Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday, 13 July 2026, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy record, asserting that since 2014 India has transformed from a passive participant in global affairs into a credible partner, influential voice, and emerging world power.

Context

Posting in Hindi on X, CM Saini wrote that PM Modi has expanded India's global reach and injected fresh momentum into partnerships that were long neglected. Translated, the post reads: '2014 se ab tak... unhone duniya ke vibhinn deshon ke saath Bharat ke sambandhon ko aur adhik sashakt banaya hai' ('From 2014 until now, he has further strengthened India's relations with various countries of the world'). The post was accompanied by one image and reflects the BJP's ongoing effort to consolidate the party's foreign-policy narrative ahead of political cycles.

Saini, who has served as Chief Minister of Haryana since 2024, regularly amplifies the central government's policy positions on social media, and this post is consistent with that pattern.

Policy Backdrop

The Modi government launched the Neighbourhood First policy in 2014 to deepen ties with South Asian neighbours, while the Act East Policy sharpened engagement with ASEAN and East Asian nations. Both initiatives marked a departure from earlier decades' relatively reactive diplomatic posture toward a more assertive, multi-alignment approach.

India's G20 presidency in 2023 further elevated its standing, with New Delhi positioning itself as a leading voice for the Global South in multilateral forums. Simultaneously, India has pursued parallel engagements with the United States, Russia, Gulf states, and partners across Africa and Central Asia, deliberately avoiding exclusive alignment with any single bloc.

Stakeholders and Impact

The beneficiaries of this diplomatic expansion span a wide arc — from South Asian neighbours who have seen enhanced connectivity and trade frameworks, to ASEAN partners who have deepened defence and economic ties with India. Countries in Africa and the Indo-Pacific have also been drawn into a reinvigorated Indian diplomatic orbit through bilateral summits and investment pledges.

For domestic politics, the foreign-policy record serves as a key BJP campaign asset, framing PM Modi as a statesman who has elevated India's global stature. Senior state leaders like CM Saini amplifying this message broadens its reach beyond the national political conversation into state-level constituencies.

What's Next

Upcoming multilateral engagements — including potential Quad or BRICS summits — will test whether the diplomatic momentum CM Saini highlights can be translated into concrete deliverables. Discussions around UN Security Council reform remain a long-standing ambition that could mark the next milestone in India's evolving global positioning.

As India continues to assert itself on the world stage, statements like CM Saini's signal that the ruling party intends to keep foreign-policy achievements at the centre of its political messaging well into the coming electoral season.