In this episode of Latitude at Frontline, host Nirupama Subramanian speaks with Vivek Katju, a veteran Indian diplomat who has served as Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. Drawing on his decades of experience, Katju explains the turbulence in India’s foreign policy amidst shifting global power equations.

From Trump’s sudden shifts and trade fights to India’s reliance on China, and from weakened “strategic autonomy” to a fading moral core in foreign policy, Katju analyses why India must adopt a flexible strategy in a Trumpian world. He also reflects on China’s growing influence in South Asia, the overuse of personal diplomacy, and the urgent need for bipartisan consensus on national security.

Chapters:
00:00 – Setting the context
01:35 – Introducing Vivek Katju
02:22 – India’s foreign policy: Then and now
05:34 – Foreign policy since 2014
06:44 – Policy under the current government
14:17 – A historical perspective
30:12 – New US Ambassador in Delhi
37:11 – Bipartisanship and foreign policy

Highlights:
-Trump’s hostility, U-turns, and tariffs on India
-Modi’s foreign policy narrative vs ground realities
-Strategic autonomy under pressure from China and the US
-Personal diplomacy vs national interests
-The missing moral core in India’s foreign policy
-Why bipartisan dialogue is essential
-The way forward: poverty alleviation as a foreign policy goal

Perfect for:
-Students of international relations and diplomacy
-Viewers following India–US–China dynamics
-Those tracking India’s neighbourhood challenges
-Anyone curious about India’s evolving global strategy

Credits:
Host: Nirupama Subramanian
Producer: Kavya Pradeep M
Editing: Razal Pareed

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