PM Modi Says Jaishankar Plays a Key Role in Strengthening India’s Diplomacy

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended warm birthday greetings to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, lauding his outstanding service to the nation and his pivotal role in strengthening India’s foreign policy and relations with countries across the world.

In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, “Warm birthday wishes to Dr. S. Jaishankar. He has served the nation as a distinguished diplomat and is now playing a vital role in strengthening India’s foreign policy and its relations with the world. I pray for his long and healthy life.”

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, born on January 9, 1955, in New Delhi, is a senior BJP leader and an Indian politician who has been serving as India’s External Affairs Minister since 2019. He is widely regarded as one of the most experienced diplomats to enter active politics. Notably, he is the first Indian career diplomat and former Foreign Secretary to be appointed as External Affairs Minister.

Before entering politics, Jaishankar had a long and distinguished diplomatic career spanning over four decades. He served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018, the highest bureaucratic position in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Prior to that, he held several key diplomatic assignments, including serving as India’s Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2013 and to the United States from 2013 to 2015.

Jaishankar was born into a Tamil family known for its strong intellectual and strategic traditions. His father, K. Subrahmanyam, was a highly respected civil servant, strategic affairs expert, and commentator who played a significant role in shaping India’s defence and nuclear policies. Growing up in such an environment sparked Jaishankar’s early interest in international relations and strategic affairs.

He completed his schooling in New Delhi and Bengaluru and graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. He later earned a master’s degree in political science, followed by an M.Phil. and a PhD in international relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. His academic specialization was nuclear diplomacy, a field that later became central to much of his professional work. He joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1977.

Jaishankar began his diplomatic career in Moscow in 1978, where he achieved fluency in the Russian language—an asset that significantly contributed to strengthening India–Russia relations over the years. Between 1979 and 2006, he served in several important overseas and MEA postings, gaining deep insights into India’s diplomatic framework and global engagement. His foreign assignments included postings in Moscow; Washington, DC; Colombo; Budapest; and Tokyo.

In addition to his diplomatic roles, Jaishankar also served as Press Secretary and Speechwriter to former President R. D. Sharma, further enhancing his understanding of governance, public communication, and statecraft.

Returning to India in 2004, he was appointed head of the Americas Division in the MEA. During this period, he played a crucial role in negotiations that led to the announcement of the historic India–US Civil Nuclear Deal in 2005, a landmark agreement that significantly enhanced India’s global standing by enabling civil nuclear cooperation with the international community.

From 2007 to 2009, Jaishankar served as India’s High Commissioner to Singapore, strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in trade, education, and regional security. In 2009, he was appointed India’s Ambassador to China, a post he held until 2013, making him the longest-serving Indian ambassador in Beijing. His tenure coincided with a sensitive phase in India–China relations, marked by efforts to stabilize ties amid recurring border tensions.

In 2012, when China issued passports depicting Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as Chinese territory, the Indian Embassy in Beijing, under Jaishankar’s leadership, responded firmly by issuing visas to Chinese citizens on maps showing these regions as part of India. This move was widely seen as a strong diplomatic assertion of India’s territorial claims.

In 2013, Jaishankar assumed charge as India’s Ambassador to the United States at a time when bilateral relations were strained following the arrest of a senior Indian diplomat in New York on visa fraud charges. Through sustained engagement with senior US officials, he played a key role in resolving the issue and rebuilding mutual trust. He has often emphasized that while India–US relations are friendly, they require continuous engagement and careful management.

On January 28, 2015, following a meeting of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi, Jaishankar was appointed Foreign Secretary of India, succeeding Sujatha Singh. As Foreign Secretary, he prioritized strengthening India’s global partnerships and reinforcing the country’s diplomatic outreach worldwide.