Diplomatic inertia: How the West should deal with Modi

外交惰性:西方应如何应对莫迪

Editor's Picks from The Economist

2024-06-03

8 分钟
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A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. With Narendra Modi expected to win a third term as India's prime minister, we ask whether America is giving him an easy ride. Get a world of insights for 50% off—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ 
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  • Here's an article handpicked from the latest edition of The Economist, read out loud.

  • I thought you might enjoy it.

  • Narendra Modi looks likely to begin a third term as India's Prime Minister soon after June 4th when results of the general election will be announced.

  • But the poll has not been pretty.

  • On March 21st, Arvind Kejriwal, an opposition leader who is Delhi's chief minister,

  • was arrested on corruption charges that he calls a political sham.

  • Mr Modi, seemingly unnerved by low turnout,

  • has ramped up inflammatory rhetoric against India's Muslim minority.

  • Although voting itself has been generally unproblematic,

  • most Western officials agree that Mr Modi has tilted the political pitch by suppressing dissent and weakening democratic institutions.

  • How should they deal with Mr Modi,

  • particularly if his Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP wins a large mandate?

  • The response to Mr Kejriwal's arrest hints at the Diplomatic Balancing Act for Western governments.

  • Unusually, a spokesman for Germany's foreign ministry reacted first.