Rajiv Bhatia, a veteran Indian diplomat and author with over three decades of experience, recently hosted Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, for a private lunch at the Cultural Club in NOIDA’s Sector 15A. The two engaged in what Bhatia described as a “one-to-one discussion on IR over lunch”—a quiet meeting with far-reaching undertones.
“He is easily one of the best informed diplomats in the capital,” Bhatia later remarked. “He is also a good friend from our days together in Africa. He enjoyed sampling suburban living!”
The remark offers a rare glimpse into the personal side of diplomacy. For Bhatia, who has served as ambassador to Myanmar and Mexico and as High Commissioner to South Africa and Kenya, such meetings are far from symbolic. After retiring from the Indian Foreign Service, he has remained active in India’s strategic community through writing, lectures, and his association with Gateway House, a Mumbai-based foreign policy think tank.
Philip Green, too, brings considerable experience to his role in New Delhi. Before being appointed to India in July 2023, he served as Australia’s ambassador to Germany, with earlier assignments across Asia and Africa. His diplomatic style is seen as grounded, personable, and well-informed—qualities that make him a trusted voice in the capital.
Though no official statement was released following the meeting, the setting and tone suggest a candid exchange on international affairs, aided by years of shared history and familiarity. Suburban NOIDA may be a world away from the polished corridors of Raisina Hill or Canberra, but perhaps that was the point. A calm setting, no press briefings, and a menu with local flavour—sometimes, diplomacy moves best when it isn’t choreographed.
The broader context matters. India and Australia are expanding defence ties, trade agreements, and cooperation on Indo-Pacific strategies. Yet beneath the ministerial summits and press conferences, it is the quiet conversations between experienced diplomats that often help clarify intentions, dispel misunderstandings, and open new channels.
By hosting Green away from the usual circuit of embassies and government offices, Bhatia may have done what seasoned diplomats do best: build understanding through candour, connection, and a touch of hospitality. In an era of rapid change, that old art of conversation still counts.
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