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Ex-UN Envoy: India Must Be Measured in Global Responses as Ties Deepen

Former Indian UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin argues that India's foreign policy must evolve to reflect the practical aspirations of its youth, such as jobs and easier visas. He highlights a major shift from India's more vocal and reactive posture in the 1980s to a necessary caution today, driven by economic integration doubling to nearly 50% of GDP. Akbaruddin emphasizes that with the world now mattering as much to India as India matters to the world, responses must be careful and measured to protect domestic interests. He concludes that foreign policy success should be judged by leverage and outcomes, like India's influence in the Gulf, not by public commentary.

Key Points: India's Foreign Policy Shift: More Careful, Measured Responses Needed

  • Youth want jobs & visas from foreign policy
  • India's global economic ties now at 50%
  • Shift from vocal 1980s stance to caution
  • Diplomacy is gradual, leverage varies
  • Gulf region is key area of Indian influence
3 min read

India matters to world; we must be more careful, measured in our responses: Syed Akbaruddin

Former UN envoy Syed Akbaruddin says India's deep global integration demands a cautious, outcome-focused foreign policy for jobs and visas.

"Today, while India matters to the world, the world also matters equally to India. Therefore, we must be more careful and measured in our responses. - Syed Akbaruddin"

New Delhi, April 3

India's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, said that the country's foreign policy is increasingly reflecting the aspirations of its young population and the everyday concerns of ordinary citizens, and while India matters to the world, the reverse is also true and and therefore, it must adopt a more careful and measured approach in its responses.

Speaking on the YouTube channel of young Indian podcaster and entrepreneur Raj Shamani, Akbaruddin dwelt on the evolving nature of diplomacy, as he highlighted that the expectations of young Indians today are very different from those of earlier generations.

The former IFS official noted that while traditional foreign policy focused largely on ideological positioning, today's youth are more concerned with practical outcomes such as employment opportunities, easier visa access, and better avenues for remittances.

"So I see that the young and the ordinary Indian want something else from foreign policy than the traditionalist wants. They want jobs, opportunities, better visas, and remittances," he said, underlining how these aspirations are now being reflected in India's external engagements.

Akbaruddin added that India's approach in the 1980s was far more vocal and reactive on global issues.

"We were more outspoken and quick to comment on international developments. If something happened in Libya or Venezuela, we would be among the first to condemn it," he said.

However, he pointed out that the country's growing economic integration with the world has necessitated a more cautious and balanced stance. While India's global economic engagement stood at around 15-17 per cent in the 1980s, it has now risen to nearly 50 per cent. This shift, he said, has made it essential for India to act with greater restraint and strategic calculation, as global developments now have a direct impact on domestic interests.

"Today, while India matters to the world, the world also matters equally to India. Therefore, we must be more careful and measured in our responses," he added.

Discussing geopolitical realities, Akbaruddin said that every country operates with a certain degree of leverage in international relations. He cited China's strong influence over Iran due to its significant oil imports, contrasting it with the relatively limited leverage of European nations in similar contexts.

He emphasised that foreign policy outcomes should not be judged solely on immediate results, as diplomacy is often a gradual and process-driven effort.

"Some processes take time, while others may move faster. Different countries have different levels of leverage," he said.

Highlighting India's strengths, he added that the country enjoys considerable influence in the Gulf region, which has helped it secure its interests effectively. He stressed that India's foreign policy should be evaluated based on its leverage and outcomes rather than on whether it publicly criticises global developments.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Wise words from Mr. Akbaruddin. In today's interconnected world, a knee-jerk reaction can hurt our own students and professionals working globally. We have to be strategic and think of the long-term benefits for the nation.
R
Rohit P
I respectfully disagree with the 'more careful' part. Sometimes, the world needs to hear India's strong moral voice, like in the past. Being too cautious might make us seem passive. We can be both economically integrated and principled.
S
Sarah B
As someone who works with Indian tech talent here in the US, this makes so much sense. A stable, predictable foreign policy from India directly translates to better opportunities and smoother collaborations for its citizens overseas. It's smart diplomacy.
V
Vikram M
The point about leverage is key. We have strong ties in the Gulf which secure our energy needs and protect our diaspora. Why jeopardize that with unnecessary commentary on every global issue? Realpolitik is necessary.
K
Kavya N
Finally, foreign policy is being discussed in terms of what it means for the common person! Less about grand statements, more about how it helps my brother get a work visa or keeps fuel prices stable. This is the shift we need.

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