• Source:JND
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Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, PM Modi's trusted aide in external affairs matters, has become the first Indian Foreign Minister to return for a consecutive second term. He achieved this significant milestone following his swearing-in alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Jaishankar officially resumed his duties as the Minister of External Affairs on Monday as part of Modi 3.0 after serving a full five-year term as EAM in Modi 2.0.

Since India's independence, no leader has served back-to-back terms as Foreign Minister. The only exception is the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who managed the ministry for 16 consecutive years while holding the prime ministerial office. In recent decades, the late Sushma Swaraj was the only Foreign Minister who served a full term (2014-2019) under PM Modi's first tenure. Others like Sardar Swaran Singh served two non-consecutive terms, and during the tenures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh, no Foreign Minister could even complete the full term.

Jaishankar: IFS To Foreign Minister

Jaishankar's appointment is significant as he has had an extensive career within the Ministry of External Affairs, including serving as India's Foreign Secretary. In his first term (2019-2024), he used a dynamic and pragmatic approach to diplomacy, positioning India's interests effectively in a rapidly evolving global landscape marred with protectionism, wars and global conflicts.

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He has successfully balanced relationships with the United States and Russia, despite their conflicting stances, and has been highly successful in positioning India as a leading voice for the Global South on the international stage. The successful conclusion of India's G-20 presidency rose his prominence in international diplomatic circles.

EAM Jaishankar: Strengthening Regional Ties

On Monday, Jaishankar met with several key foreign dignitaries who attended PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony. These included Bangladesh's PM Sheikh Hasina, Nepal's PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Bhutan's PM Lotay Tshering, and Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu. He reiterated India's commitment to prioritising relationships with neighbouring countries and enhancing bilateral ties with them. Jaishankar also shared these sentiments on social media platform X.

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PM Modi and Jaishankar are expected to visit several neighbouring countries by the end of this year, to bolster India's diplomatic prowess and regional leadership.