Just a decade ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a figure of global controversy. His role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, during his time as chief minister, made him a political pariah in several Western capitals. Some European nations and even the United States denied him a visa. But times have changed dramatically. Today, Modi is being warmly welcomed across Europe and the broader West – not for his political transformation, but because of the irresistible economic and strategic pull of India.

This reversal was recently highlighted during Modi’s high-profile state visit to the United Kingdom. There, he received a grand reception, including a meeting with King Charles, and sealed a major trade agreement with newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The deal, touted as a landmark step in UK-India relations, aims to boost bilateral trade, which was valued at approximately £41 billion ($55 billion) in the year leading up to September 2024.

At the heart of Europe’s new embrace of Modi is not ideology, but commerce. India’s economy is growing rapidly. According to Morgan Stanley, the country is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by surpassing Japan and Germany in the coming years. Its middle class, projected to reach 95 million by 2035, offers an enormous consumer base – larger than the population of any single European Union (EU) country. Western nations, struggling with stagnation and looking to reduce reliance on China, increasingly see India as an alternative economic partner.

In addition to its economic weight, India is also seen as a........

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