By both word and deed, the new Narendra Modi government has signalled its determination to double down on its neighbourhood policy. Modi has kicked off his second-term foreign policy with visits to the Maldives and Sri Lanka while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has gone to Bhutan. The foreign minister also outlined a regional policy that would operate on several layers. A stable neighbourhood has been at the top of India’s foreign policy goals since independence. Bimstec is an important overlay to the neighbourhood policy.

Source: Hindustan Times June 10, 2019 02:26 UTC