New book explores India’s foreign policy challenges and the way forward

Book cover of 'Strategic Conundrums: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy'

Foreign policy and external relations play a pivotal role in India’s economic and geopolitical growth. As a burgeoning global power, India’s foreign policy is crafted to foster diplomatic ties that bolster its strategic interests and financial goals. Effective foreign policy facilitates trade agreements, attracts foreign direct investment (FDI), and opens new markets for Indian goods and services, thereby driving economic growth. India’s foreign policy is crucial in navigating the complex dynamics of international relations to safeguard its national security and regional influence.

Rajiv Sikri’s new book, ‘Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy,’ is an effort in the direction to analyse India’s current foreign policy initiatives, their outcomes and the possible improvements that the country can implement for better economic and strategic growth.

Spread over 300 pages, the book is segmented into 13 chapters, where Sikri individually analyses India’s foreign policy with Asian, Western, Indo-Pacific and European Nations.

Published by Penguin India, ‘Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy’ will be released on 26 July on SoftCover, ThePrint’s online venue for launching non-fiction books.

The book also discusses the underlying compulsions, rationale and limitations of India’s relations with different countries and regions.

Sikri has a distinguished career of 36 years in the Indian Foreign Service. Having retired from the Ministry of External Affairs as a Secretary in 2006, he has been responsible for India’s relations with the Asia-Pacific region, the Arab world, Israel, Iran and Central Asia. He has served as India’s ambassador to Kazakhstan and headed the departments dealing with West Europe as well as the Soviet Union and East Europe in the Ministry of External Affairs. His other diplomatic assignments abroad include deputy chief of mission in Paris, political counsellor in Moscow, deputy consul general and commercial consul in New York, and political first secretary in Kathmandu.

Strategic Conundrums: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy concentrates on India’s proximate and strategic neighbours. It also examines key problems such as energy security, economic diplomacy, the relationship between defence and diplomacy, and foreign policy institutions. The book is unique in that it mixes the perspectives of a historian, a diplomat, and a scholar. With many novel ideas and policy proposals, it contributes significantly to the continuing discussion on foreign policy among India’s strategic community.

This clear and concise book is a must-read for policymakers, diplomats, and foreign policy experts. The corporate and business community will also find it professionally useful. It is also an essential knowledge resource for students of Indian politics, foreign relations, defence, and strategic studies, among others.