Manmohan Singh And His Foreign Policy Legacy

Following the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ETV Bharat takes a look at India’s foreign policy initiatives under his leadership.

New Delhi:The most memorable moment of all my interactions with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away Thursday at the age of 92, will be the flight Air India One from Riyadh to New Delhi way back in 2010. As was the norm those days, the Prime Minister held a press conference on board the flight to talk about the visit to Saudi Arabia. The return of our entourage coincided with the Indian festival of colours Holi. Soon after the press conference, I walked up to him and said, “Happy Holi, Sir.” He placed his right palm on my head and said with his soft voice, “God bless, son.”

That visit to Saudi Arabia was important from New Delhi’s foreign policy perspective. It was during that visit that the ‘Riyadh Declaration – A New Era of Strategic Partnership’ was released. The Riyadh Declaration further cemented India-Saudi Arabia ties building upon the Delhi Declaration that was signed during the then Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s visit to India in 2006.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Manmohan Singh addressed the Majlis Al-Shoura, and received the Saudi Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Commerce and Industry. An honorary doctorate was conferred upon him by King Saud University. Manmohan Singh actually continued the pragmatic foreign policy that was started by PV Narasimha Rao and continued by Bharatiya Janata Party’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Perhaps the most abiding legacy of Manmohan Singh’s foreign policy is the India-US civilian nuclear deal signed in 2005. This landmark deal ended India’s nuclear isolation and facilitated access to nuclear technology and fuel for civilian purposes, enabling energy security and economic growth.

The importance of the role Manmohan Singh played in strengthening India-US is put most aptly by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in his condolence message following the demise of the former Prime Minister. “Dr. Singh was one of the greatest champions of the US-India strategic partnership, and his work laid the foundation for much of what our countries have accomplished together in the past two decades,” Blinken stated. “His leadership in advancing the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signified a major investment in the potential of the US-India relationship. At home, Dr. Singh will be remembered for his economic reforms that spurred India’s rapid economic growth. We mourn Dr. Singh’s passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together.”

India’s foreign policy under Manmohan Singh’s prime ministership from 2004 to 2014 was marked by a blend of pragmatism and idealism. It reflected India’s growing stature on the global stage and its aspirations to play a key role in international affairs. Singh’s tenure emphasised economic diplomacy, strategic partnerships, and multilateralism while addressing regional and global challenges.

Singh was a strong advocate of India’s ‘Look East Policy’ that was started in the early 1990s when he was serving as Finance Minister under then Prime Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. The policy focused on deepening economic and strategic ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan and South Korea.

The signing of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in Goods (2009) was a landmark achievement, boosting bilateral trade. Negotiations for agreements on services and investments culminated in the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with several ASEAN member states.

Bilateral trade with ASEAN nations grew substantially during Singh’s tenure, from $13 billion in 2004 to over $70 billion by 2014. India also attracted investment from East Asian economies such as Japan and South Korea.

Efforts were also made during Singh’s tenure to end the border dispute with China. In November 2006, then Chinese President Hu Jintao visited India which was followed by Singh’s visit to Beijing in January 2008. A major development in Sino-Indian relations was the reopening of the Nathula Pass in 2006 after being closed for more than four decades.

Singh paid another official visit to China in 2013. Three agreements were signed establishing a sister-city partnership between Delhi-Beijing, Kolkata-Kunming and Bangalore-Chengdu. As of 2010, China had become the second biggest trade partner of India.

Relations with Afghanistan also improved considerably when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. India became the largest regional donor to Afghanistan. During the then Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s visit to New Delhi in August 2008, Manmohan Singh increased the aid package to Afghanistan for the development of more schools, health clinics, infrastructure, and defence. Under the leadership of Manmohan Singh, India emerged as one of the single largest aid donors to Afghanistan.

Manmohan Singh continued the peace process with Pakistan initiated by his predecessor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Attempts to normalise relations with Pakistan included the resumption of composite dialogues. However, events such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks strained bilateral ties.

India also engaged with Sri Lanka during the final phase of the civil war in the Indian Ocean island nation, balancing its strategic interests with concerns about the rights of Tamil minorities. Relations with Nepal and Bangladesh improved through initiatives like energy cooperation, trade agreements, and border management.

Recognising India’s growing energy needs, Manmohan Singh prioritised securing energy resources through diplomacy. India forged partnerships in West Asia, Central Asia, and Africa for oil and gas. Agreements with Iran and Central Asian nations were part of this effort. Under Manmohan Singh’s leadership, India also focused on maritime security to safeguard sea lanes and counter-piracy, while expanding its naval presence in the region.

Manmohan Singh believed in a multipolar world order which India could play a significant role. His government pursued active participation in multilateral forums. India campaigned for permanent membership in the UN Security Council, leveraging its growing economic and political influence. New Delhi engaged constructively in climate change negotiations, advocating for equity and sustainable development in global agreements. While aligning with major powers, India retained its commitment to Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) principles, reflecting its historical stance on sovereignty and non-interference.

To sum up, Manmohan Singh’s foreign policy legacy is one of strategic pragmatism, economic integration, and multilateral engagement. He positioned India as a responsible global player while addressing domestic developmental priorities. His tenure laid the groundwork for subsequent governments to build upon India’s international standing, fostering a blend of continuity and change in the country’s foreign policy.