Dr. Sweta Kumari

Dr Sweta Kumari is a Senior Research Fellow at NatStrat and an International Relations and Geopolitics Analyst specialising in US Studies, Indo-Pacific strategy, and India-US strategic relations. With over seven years of experience across think tanks, academia, and policy research institutions, her work focuses on Indian foreign policy, US foreign policy, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, US-China relations, trade and geoeconomics, emerging technologies, and strategic affairs.

Previously, she served as Assistant Professor of Defence and Strategic Studies at Rashtriya Raksha University, an Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

Dr Kumari was an Associate Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation, where she worked extensively on the US and Indo-Pacific clusters, coordinated strategic dialogues with diplomats and international delegations, and engaged with leading global institutions, including the Heritage Foundation, Hudson Institute, JIIA, KNDA, and ANU.

She holds a PhD in United States Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University and is a recipient of the ICSSR Doctoral Research Fellowship. Her research and writings focus on India-US relations, Indo-Pacific security, US-China engagement, strategic trade, emerging technologies, and global geopolitical trends.

She has authored and contributed to numerous policy papers, articles, and strategic commentaries for institutions and publications, including the Hindustan Times, VIF, and Kalinga International Foundation. Her geopolitical analyses have also featured in media discussions and interviews, including appearances on BBC Hindi’s The Lens programme on US foreign policy, tariffs, the Iran-US crisis, and global geopolitical developments. She has additionally participated in strategic podcasts and policy discussions on India-US relations, tariffs, trade, and Indo-Pacific affairs.

Dr Kumari has delivered lectures, expert talks, and masterclasses at several universities and institutions across India, including Central University of Jharkhand, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Sarala Birla University, Rashtriya Raksha University, and Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on topics including Indo-Pacific geopolitics, Taiwan, Trump-era foreign policy, trade wars, geospatial intelligence, and strategic affairs.

She has represented Indian institutions in international strategic and academic engagements, including participation in a South Asia Young Scholar Delegation to Taiwan hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2023. 

Dr Kumari serves as a Board Member of PYSSUM (Paramahansa Yogananda Society for Special Unfolding and Moulding), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the welfare and holistic development of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She has been actively involved in disability awareness initiatives, programme development, outreach activities, and international conferences promoting inclusion and holistic health.

She also worked as an Indian culture and religion expert for a documentary project produced by Spirit and Nature Productions, Texas, and appeared on camera in a feature aired on an NBC-affiliated television network in the United States. The documentary was subsequently nominated for the prestigious Lone Star Emmy Awards.

With a professional background spanning strategic affairs, diplomacy, higher education, public communication, and social sector leadership, Dr Kumari contributes informed perspectives on international relations, Indo-Pacific dynamics, and the changing contours of the global order.

She can be reached at sweta.kumari@natstratindia.org