When Narendra Modi was elected to the office of prime minister for the first time in 2014, he invited his counterparts from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Maldives, and Bhutan to his swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The move set Modi’s “Neighborhood First” policy in motion, shifting Indian foreign policy’s focus towards its neighbours. It was a highly appreciated Indian foreign policy initiative toward regional connectivity and cultivating cross border relations. Now, the ongoing China-India conflict could reverberate in the geopolitical dimensions of South Asia, leading to new relations in the region. Contrary to beliefs that rivalry between China and India makes the relations with other neighbors vulnerable, Bangladesh emerges as a curious case. Bangladesh — with its strategic geopolitical location, population, markets, and manufacturing prowess — could grasp an opportunity from this ongoing conflict.
Sep 2020. India and China compete for Influence over Bangladesh
