Rajiv Bhatia

Rajiv Bhatia

Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Programme

Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia is Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Studies Programme at Gateway House. He is a member of CII’s International Advisory Council, Trade Policy Council and Africa Committee. He is the Chair of FICCI’s Task Force on Blue Economy, and served as Chair of Core Group of Experts on BIMSTEC. He is a founding member of the Kalinga International Foundation and a member of the governing council of Asian Confluence.  As Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) from 2012-15, he played a key role in strengthening India's Track-II research and outreach activities. During a 37-year innings in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), he served as Ambassador to Myanmar and Mexico and as High Commissioner to Kenya, South Africa and Lesotho. He dealt with a part of South Asia, while posted as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. A prolific columnist, he is also regular speaker on foreign policy and diplomacy in India and abroad. He was Senior Visiting Research Fellow during 2011-13 at the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Allahabad University.  His first book India in Global Affairs: Perspectives from Sapru House (KW Publishers, 2015) presented a sober and insightful view of India’s contemporary foreign policy. His second book,  India-Myanmar Relations: Changing contours(Routledge 2016) received critical acclaim. His third book, India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons (Routledge 2022) has also been receiving positive reviews.  
Expertise

Foreign Policy, Quad & Indo-Pacific, South & South-East Asia, Africa, Blue Economy

Last modified: August 9, 2017

Recent projects

Wah_Umngot_River_Dawki_Meghalaya_Border_Crossing_Bangladesh_India Courtesy:
27 July 2016 Gateway House

Listening to the Rivers

India's North Eastern States are part of one of the largest fluvial regions, they share this region with five other nations. At a recent conference, held on the sidelines of the the Nadi Festival in Shillong, the message of 'Listen to the dignity of the river' struck a chord with all present, and is a message which should be carried across the region.

Modi_Zuma Courtesy: India Africa Forum Summit 2015
21 July 2016 Gateway House

Immediate outcomes of Modi in Africa

Prime Minister Modi has just returned from his five-day tour (7-11 July) of eastern and southern Africa. The visits to Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya, were productive and saw the signing of 19 different agreements, all which highlight the India-Africa connection. The long term benefits, however, are yet to be seen.

indiaAfricalLogo Courtesy: India Africa Forum Summit 2015
7 July 2016 Gateway House

India-Africa ties: pitching higher

Prime Minister Modi’s tour of four African countries will seek to build upon recent high-level visits to the continent, providing fresh impetus for the reinforcement of India-Africa relations in matters of diplomacy, business, security, and energy while putting to rest criticism of India’s visibility deficit in Africa. However, the onus to harness this momentum now lies with other stakeholders.

IndiaNorway Courtesy: sarkarairtel
24 June 2016 Gateway House

India-Norway: burgeoning business synergy

A recent visit to the capital of Norway---Oslo---offered the opportunity to study the country’s economic success story and note its increasing interest in Asia’s emerging economies, especially India, and immense scope for deepening cooperation for mutual benefit.

Modi Make in India Courtesy: MEA/Flickr
12 May 2016 Gateway House

Progressing ‘Diplomacy for development’

Are we witnessing a new genre of diplomacy for development? Prime Minister Modi’s clear articulation and vigour have convinced most people that a fast, inclusive, and sustainable socio-economic development of India is the government’s primary goal, and increased cooperation with external partners and effective diplomacy are critical to achieve this mission.

BRICS_heads_of_state_and_government_hold_hands_ahead_of_the_2014_G-20_summit_in_Brisbane,_Australia_(Agencia_Brasil) Courtesy: Roberto Stuckert Filho / Wikipedia
28 April 2016 Gateway House

Whither BRICS?

Although the BRICS caravan is passing through uncertain times, its major leaders appear determined to continue the journey as doing so is in the collective interest. The world is likely to hear more - not less - about BRICS in the foreseeable future.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi presenting a reproduction of a map of the island of Singapore dating back to 1849 to the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, in Istana, Singapore on November 24, 2015. Courtesy: Wikimedia
19 April 2016 Gateway House

Defining & deepening India-Singapore partnership

India and Singapore elevated their ever deepening relationship to a strategic partnership last year. The two countries laid out an ambitious roadmap for expansion and diversification of bilateral ties. What drives this multi-layered bilateral relationship?

A giant step for Myanmar
3 April 2016 The Times of India

A giant step for Myanmar

Aung San Suu Kyi anchors new democratic government, but tough challenges remain

Times of India_Website Courtesy: Times of India
2 April 2016

A giant step for Myanmar

Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House wrote an article on Myanmar's new democratic government for the Times of India.