Author: Nargis Tanjima
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/04010049
Abstract: The evolution of India’s foreign policy in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries cannot be fully understood without examining the leadership of AtalBihari Vajpayee. Serving as Prime Minister during a critical transitional period (1998–2004), Vajpayee redefined India’s global strategy by combining strategic realism with diplomatic restraint and visionary leadership. This article analyzes Vajpayee’s contributions to India’s foreign policy, focusing on nuclear policy, regional diplomacy, engagement with global powers, and the balance between hard power and soft power. It argues that Vajpayee’s approach remains highly relevant in the 21st century, particularly in an era characterized by multipolarity, strategic competition, and complex security challenges. By situating Vajpayee’s policies within contemporary global dynamics, the study demonstrates how his vision continues to shape India’s diplomatic trajectory.
Keywords: Vajpayee, Indian Foreign Policy, Nuclear Doctrine, Diplomacy, Strategic Autonomy, Global Strategy.
Page No: 389-395