Henry Kissinger

 

Henry Kissinger

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, a prominent figure in U.S. foreign policy under Presidents Nixon and Ford, passed away at the age of 100.His life, marked by distinctive achievements and controversies, left an indelible mark on global affairs.

What are the major highlights of Kissinger’s foreign policy?

1.    Focusing on National Interest: In Kissinger’s realpolitik, protecting an important Cold War ally — Pakistan — and turning an adversary like Communist China into a strategic partner was driven by a deep consideration for US interests in the 1970s.

2.    Pursuing Power: Kissinger, known for power politics, openly acknowledged that he would have taken the same action as PM Indira Gandhi did during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, i.e. breaking Pakistan to establish India’s dominance in the Subcontinent.

3.    Middle Path of Pragmatism: He steered the US toward a more balanced practical and pragmatic foreign policy approach, rather than the extremes of isolationism and ideological interventions.

What is the drawback of following the tenets of Kissinger’s foreign policy for a country like India?

·       Kissinger’s strategy, as discussed above, involves constantly prioritizing order and stability over morality and justice. For e.g. USA’s immoral war tactics in the Vietnam War to win at all costs.

·       India should not lose the balance between power and principle and the balance between interests and values, in its foreign policy.