Explained: Henry Kissinger's foreign policy, achievements and controversies

Henry Kissinger, the former US National Security Adviser and Secretary of State was a celebrated personality, who also faced a fair amount of criticism. But whichever way you look at him and his legacy, one thing is certain, he was one of the top statesmen who shaped not only US foreign policy but also global politics. For some, he was a 'world statesman', while others openly called him a 'war criminal' for the fallout of actions he took through his diplomacy.

For Kissinger, by his own admission, power was the ultimate aphrodisiac. He dated some actresses like Jill St. John, the first American bond girl, Marsha Metrinko and others if media reports are to be believed. It is also said that his image of a playboy was only media-generated.

Gravitas: How Henry Kissinger Went From India-hater to Urging for Stronger Ties

One thing is for sure, Kissinger had firm control over US foreign policy as secretary of state during the years of President Richard Nixon. The two were close, although there were differences between them regarding matters related to some world conflicts.

The Nixon doctrine

The so-called 'Nixon doctrine' of US policy can safely be called Nixon-Kissinger doctrine, such was Kissinger's influence. This approach was announced by President Nixon in 1969. This doctrine said that the US should help its allies with economic and military aid when a conflict occurs and should avoid sending US troops. Nixon even said that the United States could no longer afford to defend its allies fully. The US would of course uphold treaty obligations but would also expect allies to contribute for their own defence.

However, Nixon assured the allies that US nuclear assets would continue to protect them in case of a nuclear threat.

The Nixon doctrine was announced at the time of the Vietnam War. And in contradiction to what the doctrine said, US troops were already involved in the conflict.

Although Nixon announced the doctrine, the US did not fully adhere to it as seen in the invasions of Cambodia (1970) and Laos (1971).

Henry Kissinger was called a realist who put stock in realpolitik, that is, taking decisions on practicality and real situations rather than on moral considerations.

Kissinger was credited with some of the major foreign policy successes.

Rapprochement with China

China and the US have sparred over Taiwan for decades. During Kissinger's time, China was emerging as a formidable global power but he remained firm on his position that Taiwan was not a part of the Chinese territory.

Kissinger developed what is called 'triangular diplomacy' and sought to align the US with China to form a semblance of coalition against China's Communist rival Soviet Russia, which was a US adversary too.

Also Read | Bhopal gas tragedy and Henry Kissinger's controversial legacy of secretive dealings

Though US and China's position on Taiwan was poles apart, Kissinger's diplomatic efforts with top Chinese leadership resulted in the groundbreaking 1972 summit between Nixon, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, and Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong.

Detente with Soviet Union

America's efforts to draw closer to China did not mean it abandoned the policy of stabilising relations with the Soviet Union. Kissinger had a part to play in this.

He developed a policy with the aim to establish warmer political ties with the Soviet Union. Kissinger's efforts eventually culminated in the revival of talks between the two superpowers to mutually reduce the size of their nuclear arsenal.

The US and Soviet Russia signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, SALT I and SALT II, in 1972 and 1979 respectively.

Shuttle diplomacy

So indelible is Kissinger's mark on the world and art of diplomacy that a separate term was coined to describe his efforts toward cessation of hostilities in the Arab-Israel war of 1973.

A shuttle diplomacy is when two mediating parties do not have direct contact and a mediator travels between the principal locations of each to carry on the negotiation. Kissinger's effort in the 1973 war, also known as the Yom Kippur War helped disengage the warring sides.

Kissinger and controversies

Kissinger was undoubtedly one of the most prominent diplomats of the 20th century. He shaped the contours of world politics and there are no two opinions to it. However, Kissinger's critics have at times called him a 'war criminal' because of the direct or indirect effects of his diplomatic strategies.

Although Kissinger was heavily involved in the diplomatic efforts surrounding the Vietnam War, some of his critics say that his efforts worsened the situation. He also faced flak for America's bombing of Cambodia, which was a noncombatant country in the context of the Vietnam War.

Also Read | Kissinger should have apologised for 1971 war role: Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen

Kissinger has also been accused of supporting anti-democratic activities of right-wing governments in Latin America by way of inaction.

Then there are again the allegations that Nixon and Kissinger were ignoring mass atrocities and murders committed by the Pakistani Army in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and even nudged the Chinese to attack India when it sent troops to liberate Bangladesh.

Also Read | Cast From The Past: When Kissinger failed to make China attack India during 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

An unapologetic Realist, Kissinger did play his cards the way he wanted to. With his passing, another major personality, however controversial, from the Cold War era, is lost to time.