The 9th edition of the Raisina Dialogue took place in New Delhi, with over 2,500 participants from approximately 115 countries attending the conference in person.Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined the inauguration session as the chief guest.
Key Takeaways of Raisina Dialogue 2024
Geopolitical Shifts
- Participants discussed ongoing geopolitical shifts, including the evolving power dynamics between major players such as the United States, China, Russia, and European countries.
- With the emergence of new challenges and opportunities, discussions revolved around how nations are adapting their strategies and alliances.
India a Bridging Power
- India’s External Affairs Minister called India a “bridging power”, a country seeking common ground through a “multi-vector” policy, and playing the role of a “Vishwamitra” or friend of the world.
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
- The Greek Prime Minister spoke about the importance of connectivity projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
Baltic-Nordic Forum
- The ministerial contingent from Central and Eastern Europe, which included all Ministers of the Baltic-Nordic forum, enabled a new diplomatic outreach for the government.
- This outreach aims to establish trade agreements and investment ties with this part of Europe, which is often soft-overlooked but economically competitive.
Global Conflicts
- The greater part of the conversations focused on global conflicts. The heavy presence of European dignitaries turned the spotlight on the Russian war in Ukraine.
- Panels on military and naval strategy concentrated on the need to handle an aggressive China, including discussions on “grey warfare.”
- European Ministers urged India to reconsider trade and ties with Russia and to press the case for Ukraine’s sovereignty ahead of the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that falls on 24th February.
- In particular, they urged India to join a “Peace Conference” in Switzerland, set to be held shortly, at the request of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Regional Security Concerns
- The conference addressed various regional security concerns, including tensions in regions like the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
- Participants discussed strategies for conflict resolution, peace-building efforts, and managing regional rivalries.
Technology and Innovation
- The role of technology and innovation in shaping geopolitics and global governance would have been a significant theme.
- Discussions have covered topics such as cybersecurity, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and their implications for national security and international relations.
Raisina Dialogue
- The Raisina Dialogue is an annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, which aims to address the most challenging issues faced by the world. It was structured along the lines of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
- It is a component of India’s “intelligence diplomacy,” which, though not prominently featured in the public eye, plays a crucial role in the national security framework, alongside the diplomatic corps and the armed forces.
- The conference takes place in New Delhi and is attended by people from political, business, media, and civil society backgrounds.
- The Dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving heads of state, cabinet ministers and local government officials, who are joined by thought leaders from the private sector, media and academia.
- Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF), in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, hosts the conference.
2024 Theme and Thematic Pillars
- Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create.
The participants engaged with each other over six “thematic pillars”. These include
- Tech Frontiers: Regulations & Realities
- Peace with the Planet: Invest & Innovate
- War & Peace: Armouries & Asymmetries
- Decolonising Multilateralism: Institutions & Inclusion
- The Post 2030 Agenda: People & Progress
- Defending Democracy: Society & Sovereignty.