Former diplomat praises India’s foreign policy
Noted diplomat and former permanent representative of India to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin praised the foreign policy of India, specially in a changed world where China has become more assertive to reshape the world order.
Delivering the Sir Syed Memorial Lecture-2022, an annual event of the Sir Syed Academy, at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Saturday, he said, “In a changed world where China has become more assertive to reshape the world order, India has given up its conventional and traditional approach of diplomacy. It adopted a more vibrant, dynamic, aspirational and risk-taking approach post2014, and got engaged with different countries including neighbours in a way never seen before.”
Speaking on “Changing Contours of India’s Global Engagements”, he quoted several instances from his long diplomatic career and experiences of international relations-forums.
“In the re- aligned global sphere and owing to the realms of cyberspace, climate change issues, energy needs, and inflation, foreign policy is no longer foreign”, Akbaruddin pointed out.
“We see global turbulence never seen in the recent past; the unipolar dominance of USA has waned and China has established its leading role in the domain of green technology, medicine, and solar energy etc. On the other hand, insufficient market access in China, border clashes, and Belt & Road Initiative in POK suggest that India-China differences may widen in the future,” said Akbaruddin.
Delineating the shift in foreign policy of India the former UN envoy asserted: “Electoral outcomes have consequences, which reflect in our current foreign policy. It is now based on ‘think big, act bold and take risk’”.
“PM Modi visited UAE 4 times while no previous Indian Prime Minister visited this country in the past 30 years. Foreign trade agreements with UAE, and Australia and partnerships with EU countries, UK etc. have helped in reshaping our diplomatic and economic relations with leading countries of the world. The soft power of India is also being recognised with the institution of the International Day of Yoga. It is certainly helping in a robust foreign policy”, he stated.
Presiding over the lecture, Prof. Tariq Mansoor, vice chancellor, AMU said, foreign policy was a dynamic affair, and India’s humanitarian help to Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka etc. indicated a more active and assertive role of India in the neighbourhood and global affairs.
India’s relations with Gulf countries especially UAE, and Saudi Arabia had improved a lot in the recent past.