“Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand: India’s strategic recalibration in Indo-Pacific through Mandala framework”, First Post, July 13, 2026

“It is indeed sad that when Indian diplomacy has taken up the challenge of owning the Indo-Pacific framework through bold activism and a new algorithm of collaboration – notwithstanding a frowning China and a disinterested United States – Indian media’s attention was occupied by ‘important’ reportage emerging from New Zealand, on whether Modi’s visit included nap time or climbing up stairs. Kitsch is the new normal.

I was waiting for Modi’s New Zealand’s tour to finish. I posit that his return from New Zealand culminates a grander arc of Indian diplomacy. For instance, to view the prime minister’s whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand from July 6-11 in isolation would be a strategic misstep. Between the third week of April and the second week of July, New Delhi sat at the centre of a remarkable diplomatic activism.

South Korean president Lee Jae-myung arrived on April 19 for the first state visit by a Korean president in eight years. Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi followed on July 1 for the 16th annual summit, her maiden visit to India since taking office. Within 72 hours of her departure, Modi was airborne on a six-day, three-nation journey through Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. The calendar was certainly not coincidental, nor did it merely signify multilateralism…….”

Read full article at firstpost.com