Former Australian PM Scott Morrison Praises PM Modi's Commitment to India's National Interest

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, describing him as a leader who is “quite unapologetic” about preserving India’s strategic independence and freedom to make its own decisions. Speaking virtually at the Indo-Mediterranean Dialogues, Morrison said Modi’s foreign policy approach is firmly centred on advancing India’s national interests, regardless of the preferences of other countries.

“He’ll pick up the phone, and he’ll talk to whoever he wants to. He’ll go to whichever country he needs to, to advance India’s national interest,” Morrison said. Morrison also highlighted the role of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, describing him as an “able lieutenant” who has worked extensively to implement the government’s foreign policy strategy.

The former Australian leader, who served as prime minister between 2018 and 2022, had met Modi in Melbourne earlier this year. Morrison also underlined India’s growing importance to the strategic balance of the Indo-Pacific. He argued that India’s participation gives the Quad a distinctive character and differentiates it from other regional groupings. During his address, Morrison discussed the changing security environment stretching from West Asia and the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. He pointed to several developments shaping the region, including the emerging Mecca Defence Pact, China’s growing influence, and the future direction of the Quad and AUKUS.

According to Morrison, the global order is becoming increasingly distributed, creating greater opportunities for emerging powers and smaller strategic groupings. In this evolving environment, he said, India is positioned to benefit significantly from its expanding geopolitical influence. Morrison said India is assuming an increasingly important position in global geopolitics and is becoming an especially significant player in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from @narendramodi.