Speaking from Copenhagen, Svane said Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has had a profound impact at the domestic, regional, and global levels. He stated that the importance of Narendra Modi’s role should never be underestimated, emphasizing that from the moment he assumed office as Prime Minister, he launched a campaign that moved India from modern India to global India, creating a positive impact across the world.
Highlighting India’s expanding diplomatic outreach during the Modi era, the former Danish envoy said the Prime Minister played a predominant role in positioning India as a major global power. He noted that Modi had hosted numerous heads of state and heads of government during his long tenure, helping establish India not merely as a regional player but as a global force seeking to play a significant role in international affairs.
Referring to India’s Presidency of the G20, Svane said Prime Minister Modi successfully built bridges between the Global South and Europe. According to him, the Prime Minister’s efforts during the G20 Summit enabled stronger engagement with developing nations, a development that carries direct implications for Europe as it seeks to deepen cooperation with other continents. He said Modi’s leadership helped pave the way for stronger international partnerships.
Discussing India-Europe relations, Svane pointed to the progress made toward a proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement. He credited Modi’s persistent efforts for advancing negotiations and said such an agreement would enable Europe and India to work more closely together in support of a greener, more sustainable, and better future.
Recalling his tenure in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, Svane praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and decision-making during the crisis. He highlighted the Digital India programme, stating that it helped create new technological tools that strengthened India’s resilience and enhanced the country’s capacity to respond effectively to the pandemic.
Addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Svane said Prime Minister Modi’s statement that “this is not an era of war” reflected India’s balanced and strategically autonomous foreign policy approach. He described the remark as one of the most significant messages delivered by the Indian Prime Minister in the context of the ongoing conflict.
The former envoy also underscored India’s economic progress under Modi’s leadership. He observed that when Modi assumed office, India ranked as the world’s tenth-largest economy, whereas it has now risen to become the fourth or fifth-largest economy while continuing to register strong growth rates.
Svane further credited Prime Minister Modi’s personal leadership for advancing the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership. Recalling his first meeting with Modi in 2011, when he was serving as Chief Minister, Svane said discussions had already begun on strengthening cooperation in green transition initiatives. He noted that when the concept of a Green Strategic Partnership emerged, Modi took the initiative and transformed the idea into a major programme.
Describing the Green Strategic Partnership as the historic backbone of India-Denmark relations, Svane said Denmark owes a great deal to Prime Minister Modi for strengthening bilateral ties and deepening cooperation between the two nations.
As Narendra Modi marks a historic milestone as India’s longest-serving Prime Minister, the remarks from former Danish Ambassador Freddy Svane underscore the international recognition of his leadership. From diplomatic engagement and economic growth to global partnerships and green transition initiatives, Svane credited Modi with playing a decisive role in shaping India’s emergence as an influential global power.
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