S. Jaishankar

S. Jaishankar is an Indian diplomat and politician who has been serving as the Minister of External Affairs in the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government since 2019. He has had a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service, serving in various capacities, including as the High Commissioner of India to Singapore and the Ambassador of India to the United States. Jaishankar has also served as the Foreign Secretary of India, playing a key role in shaping the country's foreign policy, particularly with regards to China, Pakistan, and the United States. His diplomatic experience has been influenced by his interactions with world leaders, including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Emmanuel Macron.

Early life and education

S. Jaishankar was born in New Delhi to a family of diplomats, with his father, K. Subrahmanyam, being a well-known Indian strategist and China expert. Jaishankar's early education took place at the Air Force Bal Bharati School in New Delhi, after which he attended St. Stephen's College, Delhi, where he studied Economics and International Relations. He later pursued his Master's degree in Politics from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, which has also been attended by notable alumni, including Nirmala Sitharaman and Arun Jaitley. Jaishankar's educational background has been shaped by his interactions with prominent academics, including Bharat Karnad and C. Raja Mohan, who have written extensively on Indian foreign policy and geopolitics.

Diplomatic career

Jaishankar's diplomatic career spans over three decades, during which he has served in various capacities, including as the Deputy Ambassador of India to the United States and the High Commissioner of India to Singapore. He has also served as the Joint Secretary (Americas), where he played a key role in shaping India's relations with the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Jaishankar's diplomatic experience has been influenced by his interactions with world leaders, including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Justin Trudeau. He has also worked closely with other diplomats, including Shivshankar Menon and Nalin Surie, who have served as Foreign Secretaries of India.

Minister of External Affairs

As the Minister of External Affairs, Jaishankar has played a key role in shaping India's foreign policy, particularly with regards to China, Pakistan, and the United States. He has been instrumental in strengthening India's relations with countries such as Japan, Australia, and Israel, and has worked closely with leaders, including Shinzo Abe, Scott Morrison, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Jaishankar has also been a key player in India's participation in multilateral forums, including the G20, the BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. His interactions with other world leaders, including Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Joko Widodo, have helped shape India's foreign policy in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Political positions and views

Jaishankar's political views have been shaped by his experience as a diplomat and his interactions with world leaders. He has been a strong advocate for a more assertive Indian foreign policy, particularly with regards to China and Pakistan. Jaishankar has also been a key player in shaping India's Act East policy, which aims to strengthen the country's relations with Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. His views on foreign policy have been influenced by his interactions with prominent strategists, including Brahma Chellaney and Ashley Tellis, who have written extensively on Indian foreign policy and geopolitics. Jaishankar has also been a strong supporter of Narendra Modi's Neighbourhood First policy, which aims to strengthen India's relations with its neighbors, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Personal life

Jaishankar is married to Kyoko Jaishankar, a Japanese national, and has two children, Dhruva Jaishankar and Arjun Jaishankar. His son, Dhruva Jaishankar, is a well-known strategist and China expert, who has written extensively on Indian foreign policy and geopolitics. Jaishankar's personal life has been influenced by his interactions with prominent intellectuals, including Ramachandra Guha and Nandan Nilekani, who have written extensively on Indian history and politics.

Awards and recognition

Jaishankar has received several awards and recognition for his contributions to Indian diplomacy, including the Padma Shri, which is one of India's highest civilian honors. He has also been awarded the Graham Greene Award for his contributions to Indian literature and diplomacy. Jaishankar's work has been recognized by prominent institutions, including the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, which have published his writings on Indian foreign policy and geopolitics. His interactions with other world leaders, including Antonio Guterres and Christine Lagarde, have helped shape his views on global governance and international relations. Category:Indian politicians