India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Australia’s Julie Bishop, now serving as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, for discussions in New Delhi that spanned everything from the growing refugee numbers crossing into India’s northeast to economic aid and border stability.
Once Australia’s first female Foreign Minister, Bishop has since carved out a portfolio of high-level international roles, including stints in academia and global diplomacy. She took up the Myanmar post in April 2024, stepping into one of the most delicate diplomatic hot seats in Southeast Asia. Her appointment came after the long-running political breakdown in Myanmar deepened, marked by conflict between the military regime and resistance forces, and an increasingly dire humanitarian situation.
The meeting in Delhi, confirmed by both parties, comes as India grapples with fallout from the ongoing civil unrest in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. The instability has pushed thousands of refugees into border states like Manipur and Mizoram, sparked arms smuggling, and created fertile ground for drug and human trafficking.
For India, the border is more than a line on the map—it’s an open wound. The 1,640-kilometre boundary has become a route for desperate families fleeing violence, and for traffickers looking to exploit the chaos. At the same time, India is trying to tread a cautious diplomatic line—working with the Myanmar military when necessary, while still calling for the restoration of democracy.
Bishop’s presence in Delhi may signal a broader effort to build a regional coalition of sorts—less formal, more practical. Her past experience as Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2018 saw her lead Australia’s diplomatic responses to global crises, but her new mandate with the UN is a different beast altogether. Now, she’s tasked with engaging both the junta and opposition forces, a challenge made tougher by criticism from civil society groups concerned about her previous consultancy ties with Chinese state-owned enterprises linked to Myanmar. Bishop has rejected those concerns and says her focus is on engaging all sides to reduce violence.
The Delhi talks included potential pathways for economic assistance, as Myanmar’s people face increasing hardship due to disrupted services, food shortages, and inflation. India, already a major trading partner and neighbour, is considering practical ways to extend support without appearing to endorse the regime.
While there was no official joint statement after the meeting, Jaishankar’s post indicated a frank exchange of views on political developments inside Myanmar. That’s diplomatic speak for “everything’s on the table”—from elections, or lack thereof, to ceasefires that rarely hold.
For Delhi, the stakes are high. It cannot afford to let Myanmar’s unrest spill further into its border regions. And for Bishop, the India stopover marks another chapter in a long road trip aimed at keeping Myanmar on the global radar.
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