Sushma Swaraj’s Tenure as External Affairs Minister

Sushma Swaraj, an Indian politician and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), served as the Minister of External Affairs of India from May 2014 to May 2019. She was the second woman to hold this position after Indira Gandhi. During her tenure, Swaraj played a key role in shaping India’s foreign policy and strengthening its relations with other countries.

Appointment and Background

Sushma Swaraj was appointed as the External Affairs Minister on May 26, 2014, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. She had previously served as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 2000 to 2003. Swaraj had a long and distinguished career in Indian politics, having been elected seven times as a Member of Parliament and three times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Key Initiatives and Achievements

• Neighborhood First Policy: Swaraj played a crucial role in implementing the government’s “Neighborhood First” policy, which aimed to improve India’s relations with its neighboring countries. She visited several neighboring countries, including Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, to strengthen bilateral ties.
• Operation Raahat: In 2015, Swaraj oversaw the successful evacuation of over 4,640 Indians and 960 foreign nationals from Yemen during the Yemen Crisis, under Operation Raahat. The operation was praised for its efficiency and effectiveness.
• Resolving the Doklam Standoff: Swaraj played a key role in resolving the 2017 Doklam standoff between India and China diplomatically. The standoff, which lasted for over two months, was resolved through diplomatic negotiations, with Swaraj leading the Indian delegation.
• Strengthening India-US Ties: Swaraj worked towards strengthening India’s strategic partnership with the United States. She visited the US several times and met with her American counterparts to discuss various issues of mutual interest, including counter-terrorism, trade, and defense cooperation.
• Enhancing India’s Global Stature: Swaraj represented India at various international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly, where she articulated India’s position on various global issues. She also hosted several high-level delegations from foreign countries, showcasing India’s growing stature on the global stage.

Digital Diplomacy and Public Outreach

Sushma Swaraj was known for her active use of social media, particularly Twitter, to connect with the Indian diaspora and respond to their concerns and grievances. She was often praised for her prompt response to tweets seeking help from Indians stranded abroad or facing difficulties in foreign countries. This approach, dubbed “Twitter Diplomacy,” became a hallmark of her tenure as External Affairs Minister.

Bilateral and Multilateral Engagements

During her tenure, Swaraj led several bilateral and multilateral engagements to further India’s foreign policy objectives. Some notable examples include:

• India-Africa Forum Summit: In 2015, Swaraj hosted the third India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, which was attended by representatives from 54 African countries. The summit aimed to strengthen India’s economic and strategic ties with African nations.
• BRICS and SCO Summits: Swaraj represented India at the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summits, where she articulated India’s position on various regional and global issues.
• India-Japan Strategic Dialogue: Swaraj co-chaired the India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with her Japanese counterpart, which focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as defense, trade, and infrastructure development.

Humanitarian Assistance

Sushma Swaraj was known for her personal touch and humanitarian approach in dealing with issues faced by Indians abroad. Some notable examples include:

• Helping Uzma Ahmed: In 2017, Swaraj helped Uzma Ahmed, an Indian woman who was allegedly forced to marry a Pakistani man, to return to India safely.
• Assisting Geeta: Swaraj played a key role in the repatriation of Geeta, a deaf-mute Indian girl who was stranded in Pakistan for over a decade, in 2015.
• Helping Indians in Distress: Swaraj intervened in numerous cases where Indians faced difficulties abroad, such as in cases of passport loss, imprisonment, or medical emergencies.

Accolades and Recognition

Sushma Swaraj’s tenure as External Affairs Minister was widely praised both in India and abroad. She was awarded the prestigious Grand Cross of Order of Civil Merit by the Spanish government in 2019 for her contributions to strengthening India-Spain relations. In 2020, she was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for her distinguished service to the nation.