On Sunday, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that India must develop a foreign policy suited for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). He believes that changes in the world require us to rethink how we approach foreign relations, moving past the old ways started by Jawaharlal Nehru.
Jaishankar spoke at the launch of ‘India’s World’ magazine and emphasized that we should not be afraid to discuss a new direction in our foreign policy. He highlighted four important reasons to consider updating our approach:
1. Old Models: Jaishankar mentioned that India’s earlier development approach led to a certain foreign policy style. As we change how we look at development in India, our foreign policy should also adapt.
2. Changing World: The world has changed a lot since the mid-1900s when countries were either aligned or not. Now, relationships between countries have become more complex.
3. Global Connections: In recent years, countries are more connected than ever, making international relations even more crucial.
4. Technological Advances: Technology is now a big part of foreign policy decisions and our everyday lives.
Jaishankar argued that if our country’s domestic situation changes, and the way countries interact changes, then our foreign policy must evolve too. He urged people not to view new ideas about foreign policy as political attacks, pointing out that previous leaders, like Narasimha Rao, have already begun this change.
Finally, he stated that to achieve our dream of a developed India, we need a foreign policy that fits our rising aspirations.
