NEW DELHI – Carnegie India announced today that Mr. Vijay Gokhale has joined their team as a nonresident senior fellow.

Mr. Gokhale retired from the Indian Foreign Service in January 2020 after a diplomatic career that spanned thirty-nine years. From January 2018 to January 2020, he served as the foreign secretary of India.

"I and the Carnegie India team are delighted and honored that Mr. Gokhale is joining us,” said Rudra Chaudhuri, director, Carnegie India. “His invaluable experience in government and deep knowledge of international affairs will guide us in thinking about the most important geopolitical questions of the day, strengthening our research-led works across our three programs: security studies, political economy, and technology and society."

Prior to his term as foreign secretary, Mr. Gokhale had served as India’s high commissioner to Malaysia from January 2010 to October 2013, as ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany from October 2013 to January 2016, and as ambassador of India to the People’s Republic of China from January 2016 to October 2017. He has served as head of the India-Taipei Association, in Taiwan, from July 2003 to January 2007. During his time in the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs, he has also worked in key positions in the East Asia Division, including as the joint secretary (Director General) for East Asia from March 2007 to December 2009.

"I am pleased to be associated with Carnegie India,” said Mr. Gokhale, adding, “In this century, where India is expected to play a larger role in international affairs and on a wider and more complex range of issues, the role of the foreign policy community becomes important in researching into topics and in offering options to policymakers across the government, industry, and the media. I look forward to contributing to this process during my association with Carnegie."

Mr. Gokhale has worked extensively on matters relating to the Indo-Pacific region with a special emphasis on Chinese politics and diplomacy. Since his retirement from the Foreign Service, Mr. Gokhale has contributed opinion pieces to the New York Times, the Hindu and the Indian Express.

In his capacity as a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India, Mr. Gokhale will pursue research relating to the Indo-Pacific region and China.

Press Contact: Nandita Singh | nandita.singh@ceip.org