15 March 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. Modern day summitry, its perils and its prospects
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)
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Topic: GS2 – International Relations |
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Context |
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Definition of Strong Leaders
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A strong leader is generally someone who holds a lot of power and influences both public policy and their political party.
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Examples of strong leaders today include U.S. President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has identified Trump and Modi as key figures in shaping a “New Conservative Movement.”
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Such leaders often use summit diplomacy to make high-level decisions on global issues like war and peace.
History and Importance of Summit Diplomacy
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Summit diplomacy dates back to the Congress of Vienna (1814-15), which reshaped Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.
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Modern examples include the Camp David Accords (1978), which led to peace between Egypt and Israel.
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U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev used summit diplomacy to ease Cold War tensions.
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However, many summits result in superficial agreements due to leaders’ desire for success and strong image.
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A major failure of summit diplomacy was the West’s misjudgment of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear weapons capabilities in Iraq.
The Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting and Its Impact
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On February 28, 2025, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a heated public exchange.
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Unlike typical private summits, this one played out on television, leading to public grandstanding rather than conflict resolution.
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Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Zelenskyy to accept a deal or risk losing U.S. support in the Ukraine-Russia war.
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Zelenskyy proposed offering mineral rights worth billions of dollars to the U.S. in exchange for past military aid.
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The disagreement forced European nations to reconsider their approach, leading to a hurried meeting in London.
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The UK Prime Minister stated that Europe must take more responsibility for Ukraine’s defense, even suggesting sending troops and planes.
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However, this European response lacked clear substance and strategy.
India-U.S. Summit Diplomacy Under Modi and Trump
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On February 13, 2025, Modi and Trump met during the Indian PM’s short visit to the U.S.
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Despite past disagreements on India’s tariff barriers, their exchanges remained civil and diplomatic.
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PM Modi did offer some concessions, but analysts believe Trump did not overpower him in negotiations.
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The main U.S. agenda was increasing defense sales to India, including a possible deal for F-35 fighter jets.
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The joint statement from the meeting was vague, offering general commitments to collaboration but pushing defense sales.
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Modi strategically prepared for the meeting by consulting key U.S. officials and business leaders, including Elon Musk.
Challenges and Future of Summit Diplomacy
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Traditional summit diplomacy aims at conflict resolution, peace-building, and relationship-building.
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However, today’s leaders often enter summits without proper preparation, leading to mere public relations exercises.
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Despite its flaws, summit diplomacy remains an essential tool in modern international relations.
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Given rising global challenges, leaders will likely rely more on summits to address critical issues requiring cooperation.
Conclusion
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Summit diplomacy remains crucial in global politics, offering opportunities for conflict resolution and cooperation.
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However, without proper preparation, it often turns into a public relations exercise with limited substantive outcomes.
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Practice Question: Critically analyze the role of summit diplomacy in modern international relations, with examples of its successes and failures. (150 Words /10 marks) |
Check More – 13 March 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
