ET in the classroom: What is Raisina Dialogue

Held annually in New Delhi, it is India’s premier foreign policy conference. Launched by MEA and top think tank ORF in 2016, the forum is designed on the lines of Shangrila Dialogue in Singapore. To be held from Jan 16-18, this will be third edition of the dialogue.

How is the 2018 edition different from the previous two conferences?
This will be the first edition which will feature a foreign head of government. Israel PM Benjanim Netanyahu and PM Narendra Modi are expected to jointly address the dialogue on the inaugural night on January 16. The 2017 Raisina Dialogue was inaugurated by PM Modi.


Who are key speakers at the upcoming event?
The list includes Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Suresh Prabhu, Hardeep Puri, Jayant Sinha, MJ Akbar and VK Singh, principal economic advisor Sanjeev Sanyal, Russian deputy foreign minister Igor Morgulov, Russian foreign affairs committee chair Konstantin Kosachev, ex-Swedish PM Carl Bildt, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, top armed forces personnel from USA, Australia and UK. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Army and Navy chiefs too will address the gathering. Top experts from Iran and China are expected at the dialogue. Other key foreign dignitaries at the dialogue include Egyptian foreign minister; UAE’s deputy foreign minister and Mauritius minister of ocean economy, marine resources, fisheries and shipping.

What is the theme of 2018 dialogue?
Managing Disruptive Transitions: Ideas, Institutions and Idioms. This theme is designed to explore the shifting dynamics within the global order. Over 500 delegates are flying in from over 86 countries to Delhi for the dialogue.