Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott gave high praise for India's rise in the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hoping India would overtake China as an international leader of supply chains and emerge as one of the eminent "real leaders" of the free world.
Abbott, presently in India on a visit to participate in Raisina Dialogue 2025, spoke exclusively to IANS on several matters, including enhancing cooperation between Australia and India.
Abbott spoke of his hopes for the future of India-Australia relations, saying, "I hope that my visit here will help to further strengthen the steady development of relations between Australia and India. They have always been good, but maybe underdeveloped in the past. I hope they develop very strongly in the coming years and decades."
Speaking of India's emergence under PM Modi, Abbott outlined his expectations of the country's future role. "My desire is two-fold. One, that India would displace China in key supply chains for democracies. And two, that in due course of time, India could become one of the leaders of the free world. India has remained steadfast in its commitment to democracy and the rule of law, and I think it should stand with its fellow democracies against the dictatorships that threaten freedom everywhere," Abbott said.
Abbott also praised the Raisina Dialogue, calling it one of the few "genuinely global" forums that offers diverse perspectives and opportunities for meaningful debates.
Last month, Abbott also lauded PM Modi’s efforts to revive traditional grains and promote their global consumption, particularly millets. Following his visit to the NAFED Millet Experience Centre in New Delhi, he appreciated Modi's effort to make millet promotion a central aspect of social upliftment in India. "I am very happy to visit the millet centre at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. I appreciate that Prime Minister Modi has made millet promotion an important part of his social upliftment efforts for the people of India.". I have to admit, I did not know much about millets. We do eat wheat and rice in Australia, but these different dishes were great and delicious. Most importantly, they're very nutritious," Abbott said.
Abbott also hoped that an equivalent program would be implemented in Australia to promote awareness of the health and environmental advantages of millets. He referred to millets as the "super food for a super country" due to their capability as a nutritious and sustainable source of food.
Read also| Trump and Putin Reach Agreement on Partial Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
