When Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed Dr S Jaishankar as India’s Minister of External Affairs in May 2019, it signalled continuity, confidence and clarity in New Delhi’s foreign policy at a time of growing global uncertainty.
A seasoned diplomat-turned-politician, Jaishankar has since emerged as one of the most assertive and articulate voices representing India on the world stage.
Upon assuming office, Jaishankar struck a note of humility and resolve. In his first official post on X (then Twitter), he wrote that he was “honoured to be given this responsibility” and “proud to follow in the footsteps” of his predecessor, the late Sushma Swaraj.
A career diplomat who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977, Jaishankar brought with him more than four decades of diplomatic experience. Having served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018, and earlier as Ambassador to the United States and China, he assumed the ministerial role with rare institutional memory and geopolitical insight. As External Affairs Minister, he has taken a strong, often forthright stance on issues ranging from border security and global governance to energy access and development equity.
Under his leadership, India’s foreign policy has been marked by what he describes as “all-alignment”, deepening partnerships with Western powers while maintaining strategic independence, including a carefully calibrated position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Jaishankar has repeatedly emphasised that India will not outsource its decisions and that its foreign policy is driven by the needs of its people, not external pressure.
His tenure has also seen India assert its growing global influence. From championing a rules-based international order to arguing that no major global challenge can be addressed without India at the table, Jaishankar has consistently underscored the country’s role as a key global stakeholder. His best-selling books, The India Way and Why Bharat Matters, further articulate this worldview, offering insight into India’s evolving diplomatic doctrine.
Currently, Jaishankar embarked on a week-long official visit to France and Luxembourg, reinforcing India’s engagement with Europe. In Paris, he is scheduled to meet French leaders and hold talks with his counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, reviewing progress under the India-France Strategic Partnership and discussing key global issues. He will also address the 31st French Ambassadors’ Conference as Guest of Honour, a reflection of India’s growing diplomatic stature.
In the second leg of the visit, Jaishankar will travel to Luxembourg for discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and other senior leaders, while also engaging with members of the Indian community.
