'You are a star in the world…': EAM S Jaishankar 'blushes' as Ambassador Levitte praises him

Summary

In this insightful dialogue, a career diplomat reflects on pivotal moments in India's foreign policy, highlighting the economic crisis of 1992 and the decisive nuclear weapon stance in 1998. The last decade is underscored as significant, with strategic domestic reforms and a growing confidence in global engagement. The diplomat emphasizes India's proactive foreign policy, driven by an appetite for international collaboration and a sense of global responsibility, reflecting a nation's evolution and its people's support for a more assertive role on the world stage.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker, a career diplomat, acknowledges the significance of India's evolving foreign policy.
• 📉 The year 1992 was marked by a severe economic crisis in India, which led to crucial reforms.
• 💥 1998 was a pivotal year for India's stance on nuclear weapons, with the decision to assert itself as a nuclear power.
• 🔄 The speaker describes India's foreign policy as more evolutionary than revolutionary in recent years.
• 🏛️ Domestic reforms in India are strategic and forward-looking, aiming to bolster the nation's capacities.
• 🌐 India's increased confidence is visible in its foreign policy, especially with changes in leadership.
• 📈 The speaker expresses optimism about India's growing domestic capacities and their impact on foreign relations.
• 🌍 India's foreign policy is popular domestically, with a desire to engage more with the world.
• 🛳️ India's proactive role as a first responder in global crises reflects its sense of responsibility.
• 🔝 The last decade has been highlighted as particularly important for India's foreign policy and global standing.

Q & A

What significant change did the diplomat notice in India's foreign policy?

The diplomat highlighted the year 1992 as a difficult year due to a major economic crisis, and the reforms implemented then served India well. The year 1998 was significant due to the decision to become a nuclear weapon power, which has since provided India with more confidence in dealing with competitive forces.

How does the diplomat view the last 10 years in terms of India's foreign policy?

The diplomat believes the last 10 years have been important, with a focus on domestic reforms and strategized changes that are not compelled but planned for the future. This has given rise to increased domestic capacities and a greater confidence in addressing the world.

What is the current sentiment towards foreign policy within India according to the diplomat?

The diplomat describes a sentiment of popularity and a sense of obligation and right in dealing more with the world. There is an appetite to engage more with global affairs and a responsibility felt towards the world.

How does the diplomat describe India's approach to foreign policy in comparison to other countries?

The diplomat notes that in most countries, foreign policy is not popular and budgets are shrinking. However, in India, there is a reverse trend with an appetite to do more with the world and a sense of responsibility.

What examples did the diplomat give of India's proactive global engagement?

The diplomat mentioned India's first responder operations, such as sending ships to the Gulf of Aden or responder teams to earthquake-stricken areas like Turkey, as examples of India's proactive global engagement.

What does the diplomat imply about the economic reforms of 1992 in India?

The diplomat implies that the economic reforms of 1992 were crucial and beneficial for India's development, setting a foundation for future growth and confidence in foreign policy.

Why was the decision to become a nuclear weapon power in 1998 important for India, according to the diplomat?

The diplomat views the decision to become a nuclear weapon power as important because it allows India to deal with competitive forces more confidently and assuredly in the international arena.

What does the diplomat mean by 'crossing the Rubicon' in the context of India's foreign policy?

The diplomat uses 'crossing the Rubicon' to signify a significant and irreversible decision, in this case, India's decision to become a nuclear weapon power, which has had lasting impacts on its foreign policy.

How does the diplomat perceive the evolution of India's foreign policy over time?

The diplomat perceives the evolution of India's foreign policy as a gradual and strategic process, with significant changes not necessarily occurring in a single year but rather as a series of planned and strategized developments.

What does the diplomat suggest about India's future in the global stage?

The diplomat expresses hope and confidence in India's future on the global stage, citing visible increases in domestic capacities and a strategic approach to foreign policy that is popular and supported domestically.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Evolution of India's Foreign Policy and Domestic Reforms

The paragraph discusses the significant changes in India's foreign policy, particularly focusing on the economic crisis of 1992 and the decision to become a nuclear power in 1998. The diplomat highlights the importance of these decisions in shaping India's current confident stance in international relations. The last decade is marked by strategic domestic reforms, such as investments in education and industry, which are not compelled by crisis but are proactive measures for future planning. The diplomat expresses optimism about India's increasing domestic capacities and the new leadership's confidence in engaging with the world. There is a notable shift in public sentiment, with foreign policy and active global engagement being popular and seen as both an obligation and a right.

Keywords

💡Diplomat

A diplomat is a representative of a country who is engaged in international relations and diplomacy. In the script, the speaker is a career diplomat, indicating extensive experience and involvement in shaping and executing foreign policy. The term is central to the video's theme as it sets the context for the speaker's authority and perspective on India's foreign policy changes.

💡Foreign Policy

Foreign policy refers to the strategies and tactics a country uses to interact with other countries and international organizations. The script discusses significant changes in India's foreign policy, particularly in response to economic crises and shifts in geopolitical strategy. The evolution of India's foreign policy is a central theme of the video, with the diplomat providing insights into the country's strategic decisions.

💡Economic Crisis

An economic crisis is a period of negative economic indicators, such as high unemployment, low GDP growth, and rising inflation. The script mentions 1992 as a difficult year for India due to a major economic crisis, which led to significant reforms. This crisis and the subsequent reforms are pivotal to understanding the changes in India's foreign policy and economic strategy.

💡Nuclear Weapon Power

A nuclear weapon power is a country that possesses nuclear weapons. The script discusses India's decision to become a nuclear weapon power in 1998, which was a significant moment in the country's foreign policy. This decision is highlighted as a turning point, enabling India to engage with the world with greater confidence and assertiveness.

💡Reforms

Reforms refer to changes or modifications made to improve a system or institution. The diplomat talks about economic reforms that India undertook in response to the 1992 crisis and how these reforms have served the country well. The term is used to illustrate India's proactive approach to economic challenges and its impact on the country's growth and foreign policy.

💡Rubicon

Crossing the Rubicon is an idiomatic expression that means to pass a point of no return. In the script, the diplomat uses this term to describe India's decision to become a nuclear weapon power, indicating that it was a decisive and irreversible step that significantly influenced India's international standing and foreign policy.

💡Evolutionary

Evolutionary refers to something that develops gradually over time. The diplomat describes the changes in India's foreign policy as evolutionary, suggesting a continuous and incremental process rather than sudden, drastic shifts. This term helps to convey the idea that India's foreign policy has been shaped by a series of deliberate and strategic decisions.

💡Domestic Capacities

Domestic capacities refer to the resources, capabilities, and potential within a country. The script mentions the increase in India's domestic capacities as a result of strategic reforms, such as developing a semiconductor industry and expanding educational institutions. These capacities are seen as a foundation for India's growing influence and confidence in international affairs.

💡First Responder Operations

First responder operations are emergency response efforts that are initiated immediately following a crisis. The diplomat gives examples of India's participation in such operations, like sending ships to the Gulf of Aden or response teams to earthquake-stricken areas. This demonstrates India's commitment to global responsibilities and its evolving role as an active participant in international crises.

💡Budget

A budget is a financial plan that outlines income and expenses. In the context of the script, the diplomat contrasts the shrinking budgets for foreign policy in many countries with the increasing appetite in India to engage more with the world. This highlights a unique aspect of India's foreign policy, where there is a growing demand for investment in international relations.

Highlights

India's foreign policy has not seen a single significant change but has evolved over time.

1992 was a challenging year due to a major economic crisis, leading to significant reforms.

1998 marked a decisive moment for India with the crossing of the nuclear Rubicon.

India's foreign policy post-1998 has been more evolutionary, with a focus on strategic planning.

The last decade has been particularly important for India's domestic reforms and strategic planning.

India's proactive approach to reforms is not out of desperation but is future-oriented.

India's domestic capacities are visibly increasing, which influences its foreign policy.

There is a growing confidence in India's leadership in addressing global issues.

India's foreign policy is popular domestically, with an appetite to engage more with the world.

India feels a sense of responsibility towards global issues, demonstrated by its first responder operations.

India's engagement with the world is seen as both an obligation and a right by its citizens.

India's foreign policy is not just reactive but is also about looking back and assessing progress every decade.

The interview concludes with a positive note on India's foreign policy and its global standing.

Transcripts

you are a star in the world and uh I

express the

[Music]

Gratitude you are a star in the world

and uh I express the

Gratitude thank you very

much as a career Diplomat when did you

see a significant change in India's

foreign policy as India

Rises uh that's a that's a you know it's

not an easy one because it wasn't a

single single issue uh you know

199 uh2 was a very difficult year for us

because we were looking at a very major

economic crisis uh and many of the

reforms that we did then uh I think

served us very well uh then I would move

to

1998 which was for years we we had this

you know uh

ambivalence I would actually say the

ambivalence was really indecision uh on

becoming a nuclear weapon power I think

it was important that we cross that

Rubicon because today

uh in many ways it it enables us to deal

with you know competitive forces in a

much more confident and assured

manner I would say thereafter it's been

uh very much more evolutionary you know

it's it's hard to say that year there

was a decisive change but all in all to

me the last 10 years have been important

and you know obviously I have a

political partiality in making that

statement but I would still say why I

think those 10 years have been important

is at home uh we are doing the

reforms uh that we should not just the

ones we must that you know we're not

saying our backs are to the wall so let

me do something we are actually doing

things looking ahead planning for the

future saying you know if I put a

semiconductor industry in place it means

this if I do log itics it means this if

I double the number of you know

universities and colleges that gives me

a better place now these are not changes

which are compelled these are changes

which are strategized and to me that

gives me a lot of Hope about what we can

do because I can visibly see our

domestic capacities increasing this

external is uh as the capacities grow

and as you know with with the change of

leadership I think there much greater

confidence in actually uh in in

addressing the world and I would say

this today if you go around the world

let's be honest in most countries

foreign policy is not popular you know

people don't want to do more they don't

I mean uh when foreign ministers meet

they common topic is how the budgets

have shrunk okay I mean it's it's a it's

a common gripe of foreign ministers we

have to battle for your budget okay I

see the reverse in my country I mean

there is an appetite to do more with the

world there is a sense of responsibility

to the world you know if you look I mean

look at for example our first responder

operations I mean we could take the view

saying we are a $3,000 per capita

country so why should I send ships to

the Gulf of aen you know or why should I

send

responder team to an earthquake in

turkey or whatever you know depending on

but there is today I mean if I describe

to you a sentiment in the country today

in my country today foreign policy is

popular dealing more with the world is

popular people feel both an obligation

and a sense of right uh about that and

that's for me being evolutionary but you

know it's human nature every 10 years

you kind of look back and say okay where

are we compet and I think to me that's

been hugely

encouraging well

Minister it's a privilege to be with you

today it's been fascinating conversation

thank you for the audience for your

questions but Mr Minister thank you for

your

answers you are a star in the world and

uh I express the gratitude of all the

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