The recent meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs witnessed a comprehensive discussion on India’s foreign policy, with a primary focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States. The committee’s chairman, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, lauded the detailed briefing provided by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, emphasizing that “no stone was left unturned” in addressing key issues concerning India-US relations.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tharoor stated, “We had a very good briefing from the Foreign Secretary on current foreign policy developments. However, most of the discussion centered around the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Washington. A very thorough briefing was provided, and members raised numerous questions. Every possible aspect of the India-US relationship in the context of the PM’s visit was addressed, and the Foreign Secretary gave all the necessary answers.”
#WATCH | Delhi: After the meeting, Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Shashi Tharoor says, "We had a very good briefing from the Foreign Secretary, it was on current foreign policy developments. But most of the discussion was on the US because of the PM's recent visit to… https://t.co/EudOb7tfMA pic.twitter.com/uanq3oEG0y
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2025
Given the extensive focus on India-US ties, Tharoor revealed that discussions on other crucial international matters, such as India’s diplomatic relations with Bangladesh, the recent visit of the Amir of Qatar, and PM Modi’s France tour, had to be postponed. “These topics will now be taken up in a separate meeting. The participation and the quality of discussions highlight the hard work committee members are putting into examining critical foreign policy challenges facing the nation,” he added.
The meeting assumes significance as India’s global standing continues to evolve, particularly in light of strategic partnerships with key allies like the US. PM Modi’s visit to Washington, which included high-profile meetings with President Joe Biden and business leaders, was seen as a major diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in defense, trade, technology, and geopolitics.