Sushma Swaraj's tenure as External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj was the Indian External Affairs Minister under Prime Minister Narendra Modi from May 2014 till May 2019, responsible for implementing the foreign policy of Narendra Modi. She is only the second women to hold this position after Indira Gandhi.
Background
Swaraj is a lawyer by profession and a seasoned parliamentarian with many 'first-timer' records in her name, often considered to be among the best spoken Indian politician and also known for her diplomatic skills. She served as the Leader of the Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014 and by virtue of her designation she had the opportunity to meet a galaxy of world leaders visiting India apart from her official foreign trips. This has significantly improved her understanding in world affairs and also helped her to develop a personal rapport with many important dignitaries.[1]
Policy initiatives
Fast-track Diplomacy
On completion of the first 100 days of Modi govt the External Affairs Ministry published a booklet called "Fast Track Diplomacy"[2] show-casing the achievement made in the foreign policy arena. In her first media interaction, the minister Sushma Swaraj said the catchphrase for her tenure was "fast-track diplomacy" and said it had three faces – proactive, strong and sensitive.[3] Since taking office, the External Affairs Minister held round-table meeting with all Indian heads of missions to the SAARC region, ASEAN region and Middle East separately as a follow up measure to carry forward the leads gained by high-profile visits and exchanges.
Act East Policy
From the very beginning, the NDA Government made it ample clear that India would focus more and more on improving relation with ASEAN and other East Asian countries as per India's Look East policy which was formulated during Narasimha Rao's Government in 1992 for better economic engagement with its eastern neighbours but successive Governments later successfully turned it into a tool for forging strategic partnership and security cooperation with countries in that region in general and Vietnam and Japan in particular.[4] In her recent visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, Sushma Swaraj has stressed on the need for an Act East Policy[5] that she said should replace India's over two decade-old Look East Policy emphasizing a more proactive role for India in this region.[6]
Multilateral engagements
ASEAN Regional Forum
Swaraj attended the 2014 ASEAN Regional Forum followed by the related EAS Foreign Ministers meeting, held from 8–11 August in Naypidaw, Myanmar, which was her first ever appearance in multilateral forums after becoming India's foreign affairs head. She had held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from seven countries including China, Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei and Indonesia.[7][8]
Foreign trips made as External Affairs Minister
The following is a list of international visits made by Swaraj after taking office as External Affairs Minister on 26 May 2014.
2014
Country | Areas visited | Date(s) | Purpose(s) | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | Dhaka | 26–27 June | Official visit |
|
||
Bhutan | Thimpu | 16–17 June | Official visit |
|
||
Nepal | Kathmandu | 27–29 July | Official visit |
|
||
Myanmar | Naypidaw | 8–11 August | ASEAN Regional Forum |
|
||
Singapore | Singapore | 16–18 August | Official visit |
|
||
Vietnam | Hanoi | 24–25 August | Official visit |
|
||
Bahrain | Manama | 7–8 September | Official visit |
|
||
Afghanistan | Kabul | 10 September | Official visit |
|
||
Tajikistan | Dushanbe | 11–12 September | SCO |
|
||
United States | New York City, Washington | 24 September – 1 October | United Nation |
|
||
United Kingdom | London | 17 October | Official visit |
|
||
Mauritius | Port Louis | 1–3 November | Official visit |
|
||
Maldives | Malé | 3 November | Official visit |
|
||
United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | 10–12 November | Official visit |
|
||
Nepal | Kathmandu | 24–27 November | SAARC summit |
|
||
South Korea | Seoul | 28–30 December | Official visit |
|
2015
Country | Areas visited | Date(s) | Purpose(s) | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | Beijing | 31 January – 3 February | RIC summit and Official visit |
|
||
Oman | Muscat | 17–18 February | Official visit |
|
||
Sri Lanka | Colombo | 6–7 March | Official visit |
|
||
Turkmenistan | Ashgabat | 7–9 April | Official visit |
|
||
Indonesia | Bandung | 21–24 April | Bandung Conference |
|
||
South Africa | Durban | 18–21 May | Official visit |
|
||
United States | New York City | 20–22 June | Yoga Day celebration at United Nations |
|
||
Nepal | Kathmandu | 2 June | Donor's conference on Nepal earthquake Rehabilitation |
|
||
Thailand | Bangkok | 27–29 June | Official visit |
|
||
Egypt | Cairo | 23–25 August | Official visit |
|
||
Germany | Berlin | 25–27 August | Official visit |
|
||
Pakistan | Islamabad | 7–8 December | Heart of Asia conference |
|
2016
Country | Areas visited | Date(s) | Purpose(s) | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sri Lanka | Colombo | 5–6 February |
|
||
Nepal | Pokhara | 16–17 March | 37th SAARC Council of Ministers' Meeting |
|
|
Iran | Tehran | 16–17 April |
|
||
Russia | Moscow | 17–19 April |
|
||
Myanmar | Naypyidaw | 22 August |
| ||
Italy | Rome | 2–5 September |
|
||
See also
- Foreign policy of Narendra Modi
- Minister of External Affairs (India)
- Hillary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State
References
- "Sushma Swaraj-first woman to get External Affairs portfolio". 26 May 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- "Fast Track Diplomacy".
- "PM Modi's 100 days: Sushma Swaraj talks tough on Pakistan, China and US". The Economic Times. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- "Vietnam among pillars of India's "Look East" policy". english.vietnamnet.vn. Vietnam News Agency. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- "Modi govt to give greater push to India's Look East Policy, says Sushma Swaraj". Firstpost. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj tells Indian envoys to Act East and not just Look East". The Economic Times. 26 August 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj in Myanmar for ASEAN meet, East Asia Summit". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- "Swaraj holds 7 bilateral meetings on sidelines of ASEAN summit". Indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka". BDNews24. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj on 2-Day Visit to Bangladesh, Teesta, Land Boundary Top of Agenda". 26 June 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj describes her Nepal visit very successful". The Times of India. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- "Swaraj holds 7 bilateral meetings on sidelines of ASEAN summit". Indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj Describes Myanmar Visit as Very Successful". Zee News. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- "Report: Singapore to Help India in Smart Cities Project After Sushma Swaraj's Visit". Daily News and Analysis. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj in Hanoi, India examining Vietnam's South China Sea oil blocks offer". 25 August 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj tells Indian envoys to Act East and not just Look East". The Economic Times. 26 August 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj arrives in Afghanistan; strategic ties on the agenda". The Indian Express. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- "Sushma meets Karzai in Kabul, stresses partnership". Hindustan Times. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- "Delhigears to join China-Russia club". 8 June 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- "sushma swaraj begins US visit meets counterparts from 7 nations". The Economic Times. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- "India to cooperate with Mauritius to safeguard Indian Ocean". The Economic Times. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- "India committed to Maldives' security & stability: Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj". The Economic Times. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- "External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj seeks increased UAE investments during visit". The Economic Times. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- "Swaraj, Aziz meet briefly on SAARC sidelines". The Indian Express. 25 November 2014.
- "Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on three-day visit to South Korea from Sunday". The Economic Times. 26 December 2014.
- "Sushma Swaraj arrives in Beijing on four-day visit; China allays fears of regional hegemony". The Times of India. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- "Official visit of Minister of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs to the Sultanate of Oman". Ministry of External Affairs (India). 16 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- "India seeks its place in Indian Ocean ahead of Modi's China visit". Times of India. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- "Sushma Swaraj to travel to Sri Lanka ahead of PM Modi's visit". Press Trust of India/Live Mint. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- "External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj calls on Sri Lankan President Sirisena upon arriving in Colombo". Press Trust of India/Daily News and Analysis. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- "Sushma Swaraj visits Turkmenistan". Twitter. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- "Sushma Swaraj in Turkmenistan to hold talks on TAPI, key issues". The Economic Times. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- "Visit of EAM to Indonesia". Ministry of External Affairs (India). 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- "Sushma Swaraj leaves on four-day visit to South Africa".
- "Sushma Swaraj concludes Nepal visit".
- "India, Thailand sign multiple agreements, including DTAT".
- "Keeping up connect with Arab world, Sushma to visit Egypt". Retrieved 17 August 2015.