Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Sunday, 12 July said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent foreign visits have delivered tangible strategic, defence, and economic dividends for India. Speaking at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Patra presented what he titled '10 Kadam, 10 Ka Dum' — a ten-point assessment of the outcomes from Modi's visits to Seychelles, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as the reciprocal visit by Japan's top leadership to India.

India's Expanding Role in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific

Patra argued that through these engagements, India has deepened its footprint across the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions, describing the country as an emerging 'force for stability' in both theatres. He attributed this standing to what he called India's political stability, policy continuity, and economic resilience — maintained, he said, even through the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, and economic headwinds.

'While governments and policies in many countries have changed over the past few years, India has established global trust through political stability, policy continuity, and economic strength,' Patra said.

Sabang Port and the Strait of Malacca

A centrepiece of Patra's presentation was Indonesia's Sabang Port, which he described as carrying 'immense strategic importance' owing to its proximity to the Strait of Malacca — one of the world's busiest maritime corridors and a chokepoint for a significant share of international trade. He said India's interest in the port's development would strengthen its strategic reach across the Indian Ocean region, extending maritime cooperation from Seychelles to Indonesia.

BrahMos Deal and the Shift to Defence Exports

Patra highlighted the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile cooperation with Indonesia as evidence of India's evolution from a defence importer to a defence exporter and partner. 'India is evolving from a mere purchaser of weapons into a partner and exporter of defence equipment,' he said. He noted that while India previously relied heavily on imports to meet its defence requirements, it is now advancing in both defence production and exports — a shift he framed as central to the Modi government's strategic doctrine.

India-New Zealand Defence MoU

On the New Zealand leg of the visits, Patra cited the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on maritime cooperation between the two nations. He said the agreement would deepen ties between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force, covering maritime security, joint training, and mutual cooperation frameworks.

Critical Minerals, Energy Security, and What Comes Next

Beyond defence, Patra said a key objective of the visits was to build partnerships in critical minerals, energy security, and emerging technologies — sectors he described as central to India's long-term economic interests amid a shifting global order. 'The Modi government's foreign policy aims to safeguard India's national interests and establish long-term relationships with major global powers,' he said. As these diplomatic frameworks move toward implementation, the focus will shift to whether the announced agreements translate into on-ground outcomes in trade flows, defence deliveries, and technology transfers.