International Strategic Engagement Capsule (IN-STEP)

The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a two-day International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN-STEP) module on March 26-27, 2024, for 37 senior policymakers (both civil and military) including 29 from overseas. The overseas participants came from 21 countries, namely Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Comoros, Guyana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Tanzania, and Thailand.

Curated by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) along with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the VIF attachment was part of a larger two week IN-STEP program, designed to strengthen India’s outreach to friendly countries to build and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships. The VIF attachment provided an opportunity to the participants to engage with a wide cross-section of India's strategic fraternity.

The module was conducted over two days, in six sessions, and included a cross-section of themes such as India’s Civilizational Ethos and its Strategic Approach, Emerging World Order, Global South and India’s Vision, Energy Transition and Climate Change, New Economic Order and Future of Indian Economy and Key Drivers of Indian Foreign Policy. Each session was presided by an eminent personality and the panel speakers included equally eminent and professional academics, diplomats, military officers, scientists, and practitioners. The participants engaged the panellists with sharp and incisive questions and the ensuing discussions generated a healthy and lively interaction. A summary of the session wise proceedings follows in the succeeding paragraphs.