Indian Ocean Initiative Launch

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is the minister of external affairs for India. Earlier Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was president of Global Corporate Affairs at Tata Sons Private Limited starting in May 2018. He was foreign secretary from 2015–2018, ambassador to the United States from 2013–2015, ambassador to China from 2009–2013, High Commissioner to Singapore from 2007–2009 and Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2000–2004. He has also served in other diplomatic assignments in Embassies in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, and Tokyo, as well in the Ministry of External Affairs and the President’s Secretariat.

Philippe Etienne is the ambassador of France to the United States. He previously held numerous posts within the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, notably including the posts of ambassador of France to Romania (2002–2005), director of the cabinet of the minister of foreign and European affairs (2007–2009), permanent representative of France to the European Union (2009–2014), ambassador of France to Germany (2014–2017) and, most recently, diplomatic adviser to the president (2017–2019).

Taranjit Singh Sandhu is the ambassador of India to the United States. He is one of the most experienced Indian diplomats on U.S. affairs, having served in the Indian Mission in Washington, DC twice earlier. He was deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of India in Washington, DC. Earlier, he was first secretary (political) at the Embassy of India, Washington, DC, responsible for liaison with the United States Congress. Prior to his current assignment in Washington, DC, Ambassador Sandhu was high commissioner of India to Sri Lanka from January 2017 to January 2020. He has also served at the high commissioner of India to Colombo and as the head of the political wing from December 2000 to September 2004.

Arthur Sinodinos is Australia’s ambassador to the United States, taking up his post in Washington in February 2020. Ambassador Sinodinos was previously Australia’s minister for industry, innovation and science and was a senator for New South Wales in the Australian Parliament from 2011 to 2019. In 2008, Ambassador Sinodinos was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to politics through the executive function of government, to the development of economic policy and reform, and to the Greek community.

Darshana M. Baruah is a fellow with the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where she directs the Indian Ocean Initiative. Her primary research focuses on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and the role of islands in shaping great power competition.

Evan A. Feigenbaum is vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he oversees research in Washington, Beijing, and New Delhi on a dynamic region encompassing both East Asia and South Asia.

Ashley J. Tellis is the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, specializing in international security and U.S. foreign and defense policy with a special focus on Asia and the Indian subcontinent.