Country First or Politics First? Why Foreign Policy Needs Maturity

​We often see fights between the Government and the Opposition in Parliament. That is democracy, and it is good. But there is an old saying: "Politics must stop at the water's edge." This means when it comes to dealing with other countries, India should speak with one voice. Sadly, today we are seeing a trend where political scoring is kept ahead of national interest.

​A perfect example is our relationship with the USA. Dealing with superpowers is not easy. It requires balance, patience, and sometimes, a lot of silence.

​The "Who Stopped the War" Drama

​Recently, we saw a situation where the US President made a big claim. To boost his own image, he said something like, "India stopped the war because I told them to." or "Peace happened because of US pressure."

​Now, anyone who knows diplomacy knows that world leaders often take credit for things they didn't do just to satisfy their voters or their ego. In an ideal world, what should India have done? Nothing. We should have kept quiet. We know the truth, the world knows the truth. If the US President wants to feel happy thinking he did it, let him. It keeps the relationship smooth.

​But here is where the Opposition played a spoiler role.

​Instead of understanding the delicate nature of foreign relations, the Opposition started cornering the Government. They asked, "Is the US President telling the truth? Did we bow down to US pressure? Government must clarify!"

​The Trap for the Government

​The Government was put in a tight corner.

1. ​If they stayed silent: The Opposition would say the Government is weak and listening to the US.
2. ​If they spoke up: They would have to say the US President is lying.

​Because of this political pressure at home, the Government was forced to issue a statement saying, "No, we did not do it because of the US."

​What was the result?

The Indian public got to know the truth (which they already knew), but the US President's ego was hurt. He felt humiliated because India publicly contradicted him. This created unnecessary tension and "kutti" (friction) in our relations.

​If the Opposition had not forced the issue, we could have just smiled and ignored the US statement. But to score points against the ruling party, the Opposition forced a diplomatic row.

​The Same Mistake with Trade Deals

​We are seeing the same pattern with trade deals now. A trade deal is a give-and-take. You win some, you lose some.

​It is the job of the Opposition to ask questions: Is this good for our farmers? Is this good for our IT sector? That is valid.

​But attacking the Government in a way that forces them to release statements that upset our partner countries is wrong. You cannot corner the Government on foreign policy just to get a headline in the morning newspaper. When you force the Government to talk tough publicly to prove they are strong, it makes negotiation behind closed doors very difficult.

​Conclusion

​The Opposition has every right to question the Government on roads, jobs, and inflation. But when it comes to Foreign Affairs, we need maturity.

​By forcing the Government to publicly fact-check the US President or other leaders, the Opposition might win a small debate on TV, but India loses goodwill on the global stage. We need to understand that sometimes, keeping the ego of a foreign leader intact is more important than proving a point in domestic politics.

​Country must always come before the party.