Western Media Praises India.
Most interesting shift is in European news channels. All are praising India as great power, superpower suddenly. These channels never had displayed any good news about India, ever. Read about this bias here.
With the U.S. moving toward 35–50% tariffs and aggressive “America First” policies, Europe realized it was being orphaned by its traditional protector.
They looked around and realized India is the “Blue Water” naval power and the only four trillion-dollar economy that isn’t actively hostile to them. The “great power or superpower” labels are their way of courting a new protector. They need the Indian market to keep their factories open and the Indian Navy to keep their trade routes safe. Let me narrate folklore from India about Paltu, Palta and Palatram JI.
The Story of Rising
There was a man named Palat Ram. Everyone called him Paltu. When his financial position improved people started calling him Palat, his first name. When he became prosperous, the same people would address him as Palatram Ji.
The story of the man moving from Paltu (the disposable nickname) to Palat (recognition of status) to Palatram Ji (the title of high respect) is exactly what we are seeing in real-time.
The “Paltu” Era: For decades, European channels treated India like a charity case or a “colonial student”. Someone to be lectured or ignored. A poster boy of poverty. It’s achievements were “Slumdog Millionaire.” An exception in general poverty.
The “Palat” Era: As India’s economy grew and the digital signatures, pharma manufacturing, Vaccine diplomacy and maritime power became undeniable. Now they started calling it a “Strategic Partner.”
The “Palatram Ji” Era: Then came Operation Sindoor and its indigenous Air Defence “Akashteer”. Now, with the President Costa calling himself “Overseas Citizen of India” and news anchors suddenly praising India as a “Superpower,” we have reached the stage of the highest honor. They are using the “Ji” because they need the arms, ammunition, and the security.
That visual of EU Council President António Costa flashing his OCI card is probably the most potent symbol of this entire shift. It was not a “fun fact” for the press rather it was a deliberate signal of blood-bond diplomacy.
President Costa’s gesture was the ultimate “Palatram Ji” moment. When the President of the European Council stands in Hyderabad House and effectively says, “I am one of you,” he isn’t just being friendly rather it is an acknowledgement that the power balance has flipped. Paltu is also a Hindi word for flipping or flipper.
The sudden pivot from criticism to praise is the “Paltu” behavior of European news outlets which is not a change of heart. It is human survival instinct.
The media “Palta” (the flip) happened because India’s “bank balance” and “muscle” grew too big to ignore. They didn’t start liking India because they became more enlightened. They started calling India “Ji” because India became the person they now have to sell their goods for their own survival. But it is not that simple.
The print media has not yet followed the turn but soon that will also happen. The reasons of the change is grounded on many facts.
Global Gas Station
India produces very little crude oil but it is the global gas station with largest refining capacity after USA and China. At the India Energy Week 2026 (January 27), PM Modi confirmed that India’s current refining capacity has reached approximately 260 MMTPA and is on a fast track to cross 300 MMTPA very soon. He also highlighted a ₹70,000 crore shipbuilding programme aimed at supporting domestic LNG transport vessels.
Some long-term targets mentioned by the Petroleum Ministry even aim for 450 MMTPA by 2030 to 2035. Processed petroleum remains the larges exported goods out of India. This positions India as a major global refining hub, surpassing many peers in total capacity.
While Europe is shutting down its aging, expensive refineries due to high energy costs and environmental regulations, India is building them at a massive scale. The increase in capacity from 260 to 300+ MMTPA, is not required to satisfy domestic demand. India is positioning itself to be the world’s petrol station.
Europe stopped buying oil from Russia and are now paying the double price to USA for same product. India sells at market price. Now they can buy processed oil from India in EURO-Rupee trade mechanism without needing US Dollar.
US energy has broken Europe’s financial back. India’s refining expansion is the “physiotherapy” for that broken back. India can process complex, “dirty,” or discounted crude (from any source, including BRICS partners) and turn it into Euro-6 grade fuel.
By scaling up to 300 MMTPA, India ensures it has enough surplus to keep European flights in the air and German cars on the road at a price that is far more competitive than US-shipped alternatives.
PM Modi used a specific phrase in his speech: “Moving from Energy Security to Energy Independence.” This is “independence” from the ship seizures on high sea and the USD bypass. By becoming a refining giant, India ensures that no single “third party” can cut off its economic oxygen. It creates a “Refining Shield” where India controls the value-addition process.
Andaman and Nicobar basin in Indian Ocean is emerging as a promising hydrocarbon region. India has already awarded 170 exploration blocks. This may augment the supply of energy for India.
Europe is signing a trade deal with a country of 1.4 billion and that is also a refining superpower that is literally doubling down on its capacity to support them. Europe is getting a partner (India) committed to a massive infrastructure expansion that directly solves the EU’s biggest nightmare which is energy inflation.
Naval Power
For decades, the EU relied on the US Navy to keep the seas safe for their trade. Now that the US is “breaking their back” with expensive energy and high tariffs, the EU has realized they need a new protector. They are praising India as a “Superpower” because they want to park their interests under the umbrella of India’s carriers.
Europe realize that India is the only fleet in the Indian Ocean that can guarantee their economic survival. They aren’t praising India out of love; they are praising India because they are looking at the flight deck of a carrier and seeing their own future security.
The “mystery” of why India is spending billions on a third carrier while others are cutting budgets is solved by the energy conference you noted: You cannot be the world’s refinery if you are not also its most capable lifeguard.
Europe used to talk about “Shared Values” (which was often just code for Europe lecturing India) and now it is in the era of Shared Naval Assets or shared aircraft carriers” to be exact.
The French-built Rafale-M jets on the deck of the INS Vikrant or INS Vikramaditya, and now the move toward the third aircraft carrier (IAC-2 or INS Vishal), is the hardware that backs up the “Reciprocal Maritime Security” Ursula von der Leyen talked about.
Arms and Ammunition
India is a prospective purchaser of many of high-tech war machines produced in Europe. It is buying Rafale fighter planes from Dasault, fighter engine of Safraan from France, Submarines from Germany, technologies for Air craft carrier from Italy. India may be interested in plane Engine from Rolls Royce, UK.
Europe suffered badly in Ukraine war. The burden of immigrants and financial fall out are few of these problems. The bigger problem is that it has depleted its stockpile of arms and ammunition which were limited in number, to begin with.
This may change soon. With Europe is inviting Indian firms to join the EU’s €150-billion SAFE (Security Action for Europe) programme. They would be deeply interested in 155 mm guns and shells for it existing guns. India has massive supply chain. It may be interested in the Shaktiban drone swarms.
On 26th January 2026 during Republic Day parade both Ursula and Costa were excited like children before icecream truck. They were almost salivating at the weapons on display. Asking about each. Both had stood up and remained standing for almost entire parade, as long as weapons on display. Always talking to Modi or translator.
When Barack Obama attended as the Chief Guest in 2015, the media reports were filled with “stiff” observations. One of the biggest headlines was Obama caught on camera chewing Nicorette gum during the parade. It was widely criticized in India as a sign of disrespect or casualness toward a solemn state event.
When a guest feels they are more important than the host, they look bored (Obama). When a guest realizes the host is their hope for survival, they are on their best behavior (EU).
For the EU, India’s Operation Sindoor tableau (which dominated the 2026 parade) was like a catalogue of things they desperately need but can’t produce fast enough. They were looking at the BrahMos-2 hypersonic missiles or the Shaktiban drone swarms; they were calculating how these could secure their own borders.
After two years of war, their own energy crisis and depleted weapon stocks, it was a relief for Europe to find India. A partner who could roll out thousands of tonnes of indigenous, high-tech weapons made them realize where the new center of gravity is. What was the parade of weapons became a live audit of India’s capabilities. They wanted to know the range, the cost, and the “digital signature” of every piece of hardware.
Eggplant Rolls Away from Atlantic
“Baingan” (the eggplant) is the perfect metaphor for the European media right now. As the saying goes, thali ka baingan (an eggplant on a plate) has no base; it rolls wherever the plate tilts.
For years, the “plate” was tilted toward the Atlantic, and the media rolled that way, dismissing India as “Paltu.” But now, with the U.S. “sticks” getting too heavy and their own energy “back” breaking, the plate has tilted toward the Indian Ocean. Suddenly, the baingan has rolled over to India’s side and started singing praises of “Palatram Ji.”
The “Baingan” hasn’t just rolled to India’s side; it’s practically trying to jump into the Kadhai (wok) to be part of the meal.
Europe now has the relief of finding a partner who has the muscle to say “No” to the global “sticks” while keeping the lights on in Europe.
References:
- India Energy Week: https://solarquarter.com/2026/01/28/pm-modi-highlights-500-billion-energy-investment-opportunity-at-india-energy-week-2026/
- Rising Energy Demand: https://www.indianmandarins.com/news/india-energy-week-2026-india-s-rising-energy-demand-presents-opportunities-to-meet-global-requirements-says-pm-modi/32003
- INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous carrier: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2182277®=3&lang=2
- Third carrier: https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2025/india-to-develop-first-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carrier-to-counter-china-and-pakistan-in-the-indo-pacific
- Press Conference of 27 Jan 2026:
- Republic Day parade of 26 Jan 2026:
- News report: https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Jan/28/greenland-blues-to-delhi-red-carpet-eu-finds-solace-in-india-2
- India and EU set for mother of all deals as Trump’s tariffs loom: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrnee01r9jo
- EU, India clinch historic free trade deal: https://www.dw.com/en/india-eu-trade-deal-reached-modi-says/live-75669574
- Ten points of the deal: https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/economy/from-defence-to-worker-mobility-10-reasons-why-the-indiaeu-free-trade-deal-is-a-game-changer-article-153512494