SCERU, alongside the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), will hold a public seminar titled “India’s Foreign Policy in an Era of Shifting Geopolitics” on 6 June 2025.
This event is supported by Global Network Project to Promote Study in Japan (South Asia Regional Office).

SYNOPSIS:
Both geoeconomics and geopolitics are churning as nations seek to position themselves in a new global order. The rise of emerging economies, their efforts to expand economic and diplomatic space, and their growing share in the global economy and trade have led to trends toward multipolarity. At the same time, rich countries faced a slowdown in growth and increased financial instability. They needed the participation of emerging economies to stabilize the global economy and adopt elements of their agenda for development and transfers of resources. Yet, post-WWII global governance institutions, pillars of multilateralism, were weak on reform. However, certain new institutions evolved to bridge the gap.
India and Japan recognized these trends early and established a strategic partnership. When the USA rebalanced with the pivot to Asia, we were already engaged in the confluence of the seas. Thus, we were at the core of the emergence of the Indo-Pacific idea, likely to be a dominant ideology of the future. We built an agenda beyond the security dimension to add collaborations in other dimensions. The opportunity and the responsibility are great for India and Japan.

DATE & TIME:
Friday, 6 June 2025, 19:00-20:00 (JST)
The venue opens at 18:45.

VENUE:
Lecture Hall B, 4th floor, International Academic Research Building, Hongo campus, the University of Tokyo
* Please note that this event will be held on-site only.
* For security reasons, please bring your ID with you to enter the venue.

LANGUAGE:
English

REGISTRATION:
Open to the public.
Please register here.

SPEAKER:
Professor Sanjay Bhattacharyya
Professor of Diplomatic Practice
Jindal School of International Affairs
O.P. Jindal Global University, NCR of Delhi, India

Professor Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Indian Foreign Service (1987-2022), specialized in diplomacy for an era of globalization and transformative change, boundary and security issues, economic engagement, and negotiations. After retirement from government, he has been engaged as an independent consultant in academic, policy advocacy, and corporate advisory roles.
As Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (2020-22), he was responsible for the Arab region and Israel, COVID evacuation and relief coordination, passport, consular, emigration, and diaspora affairs. He was the BRICS Sherpa during India’s Presidency and served on the Governing Council of Jal Jeevan Mission.
As Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (2022), he advanced bilateral partnerships in technology, innovation, and investments, initiated academic ties, and leveraged Davos diplomacy. As Ambassador to Turkey (2018-20), he promoted economic exchanges and managed tense bilateral relations. As Ambassador to Egypt and the Arab League (2015-18), he built a strategic partnership with progress in economic and defense exchanges to add to existing cultural relations.
As Joint Secretary (South) (2012-15), he crafted India’s Act East Policy in ASEAN and beyond, coordinated economic diplomacy with ASEAN countries, initiated Indo-Pacific dialogue, and structured engagement with Pacific island states. As Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka (2010-12), he was involved in the historic land boundary agreement and building economic linkages; as DCM in Tokyo (2007-10), he facilitated investment flows and elevation of ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership as DCM in Beijing (2002-05) he oversaw boundary issues and bilateral relations. As a young diplomat, he worked on EU relations in Brussels (1998-2001), as a political officer in Beijing (1992-95) and in Hong Kong (1989-92). In HQs, he worked in East Asia, External Publicity, the Americas, and Finance Divisions.
Ambassador Bhattacharyya contributed a chapter “India and China: New Directions” in Indian Foreign Policy – Challenges and Opportunities (2007), Ministry of External Affairs; an essay “India and Egypt: New Partnership in the New Era” in Asian Perspectives (2017), Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; an article “India in 21st century” in Indian and Turkish Historical-Cultural Research (2019). He contributed features regularly to Indian and foreign media on foreign policy issues. He lectured extensively at universities, business schools, and think tanks in India and abroad on the India story, public policy and governance, and foreign policy issues. He has an active social media presence with a wide following.
He studied Economics at St Stephen’s College (1980-83) and Delhi School of Economics (1983-85); learned Chinese at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; attended a mid-career program at ISB, Hyderabad; and participated in the Strategy and Leadership program at Cambridge Judge Business School.
His wife is a teacher, author, and storyteller. He has a son and a daughter.

FOR INQUIRY:
Prof. Toshiro Nishizawa

GraSPP Research Seminar Desk
graspp_enentinfo<at>pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp
* Please replace <at> with @.