Report of the First Stockholm Forum on Himalaya

Niklas Swanström, Jagannath Panda, Brendon J. Cannon, Kei Hakata, Eerishika Pankaj, Saroj Kumar Aryal, Richard Ghiasy, Rahul Karan Reddy, Dattesh D. Parulekar, Ana Carolina De Oliveira Assis, Lena Fargier, Marta Chiusi and Alexander Droop

Conference & Workshop Reports November, 2024

The first Stockholm Forum on Himalaya was organized by the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) on October 17, 2024, in Stockholm, Sweden. The flagship event of the ISDP’s Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) was titled “Mapping China’s Himalayan Hustle.” The forum probed the intricacies of China’s role as a revisionist power in the Himalayan region, exploring how its infrastructure development, military strategies, and diplomatic initiatives were reshaping the geopolitical landscape. In the context of growing tensions and strategic competition in Asia, particularly in the Himalayas, the conference aimed to foster dialogue among scholars, and experts from India, Europe, East Asia, and the United States on the broader ramifications of China’s ambitions.

The discussion emphasized the importance of regional integration in South Asia, with India playing a pivotal role, especially in addressing climate-related challenges. The event featured three key sessions, designed to address the multi-faceted nature of China’s regional strategy. Against the backdrop of Sjöfartshuset, a historic venue on Skeppsbron 10, Dr. Jagannath Panda, Head of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs at ISDP, welcomed all the participants and spoke about the theme of the conference. The event began with opening remarks from Dr. Niklas Swanström, Executive Director of ISDP, who joined virtually. He emphasized the importance of the ongoing project, which explored China’s growing presence in the Himalayas, and its implications for Europe and beyond.

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