The Future of India’s Foreign Policy: A Conversation with Yashwant Sinha

On May 30, Foreign Policy at Brookings hosted Yashwant Sinha, former minister of external affairs and finance of the Republic of India, for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing India’s foreign policy. Mr. Sinha reviewed the prospects for India’s relations with the U.S. and discuss the main international economic and trade issues affecting his country, with particular regard to Pakistan and other South Asian neighbors. He also shared his perspective on how he expects India’s policy will develop toward China.

After a 24-year long career in the Indian Administrative Service, Mr. Sinha joined politics in 1984 and, as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has since then served as minister for finance from1990-91 and1998-2002 and external affairs from 2002-04. He is currently a member of the Lower House of the Indian Parliament, where he chairs the Standing Committee on Finance. Brookings Senior Fellow Stephen P. Cohen will provide introductory remarks, and Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Teresita C. Schaffer will moderate the discussion.

After the program, Mr. Sinha took audience questions.