Former Australian PM Tony Abbott Defends Modi, Calls India an Emerging Democratic Superpower

At the NDTV World Summit 2025, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi against portrayals by what he termed the "Western liberal or leftist press."

"Sometimes the Western liberal or leftist press is critical of India under PM Modi. He's seen as a sort of a 'subcontinental Trump' - and that's a criticism," Mr Abbott stated to the assembled global leaders, diplomats, and journalists during the summit's afternoon session.

"I keep saying anyone who knows India appreciates it's got a riotously free media, it's got a robustly independent judiciary, and it has completely free and fair elections. And that's democracy."

Abbott, who led Australia from 2013 to 2015, characterized India as an emerging "democratic superpower" and suggested that the 21st century would belong "as much to India as it does to China."

"The 21st century belongs to India, and the Prime Minister of the country - whoever that might be four or five decades down the line - could take up the mantle of 'the leader of the free world'," he remarked.

The former Australian leader encouraged New Delhi to embrace its position as one of the world's new superpowers, particularly as a "democratic counterweight" to China in the Asia-Pacific region.

"India is a counterweight to China. It is now the most populous country. You go to any Indian city - there is a massive infrastructure push, new airports, and so on. India is rising and can be a substitute to China," Mr Abbott observed.

"As Prime Minister, I used to say India will emerge as a democratic superpower. Well, now that has happened," he added.

Abbott's comments come at a time of ongoing domestic debate in Australia regarding immigration levels and national identity.

In August, March for Australia rallies in several major cities distributed materials specifically targeting the Indian community, falsely alleging that more Indian nationals had immigrated to Australia since 2020 than the combined number of Greek and Italian arrivals since 1925.

These claims were quickly proven false.