R. Viswanathan

R. Viswanathan

Former Distinguished Fellow, India-Latin America

R. Viswanathan is the former Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay (2007-2012). He was earlier the Ambassador to Venezuela and served as the first Consul General of India in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has headed the Ministry of External Affairs’ division on Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as its Investment and Trade Promotion Division.  He has specialised in Latin America since 1996 and has been a regular contributor to newspapers and business journals, besides giving lectures on the subject at think tanks and universities across India, Latin America and the United States. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese. A self-confessed Latinophile, Ambassador Viswanathan is an avid reader of Latin American literature and admirer of Latino culture. He is fluent in Tamil, Spanish, English, Portuguese and Portuñol.
Expertise

Engagement of India with Latin American countries

Last modified: August 1, 2017

Recent projects

brazilprotests Courtesy: monotrilho|/Flickr
14 January 2014 Gateway House

Latin America: A review of 2013

With elections scheduled in seven Latin American countries, 2014 will be a year of significant political developments in the region. As we enter 2014, Gateway House examines the important events that defined Latin American politics and economy in 2013
LatinAmerica2014 Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
14 January 2014 Gateway House

Latin America: Looking ahead to 2014

The death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, election of President Michelle Bachelet in Chile, reforms in Mexico and the legalisation of cannabis in Uruguay have implications for the Latin American region. Gateway House examines how these will shape the region’s politics and economy in the coming years
livenmintmedia Courtesy: Livemint
3 January 2014 Livemint

Mexico holds a mirror to India

The Livemint published an article by Gateway House’s Distinguished Fellow, Ambassador R. Viswanathan, on the reforms introduced in Mexico in 2013
enrique (2) Courtesy: Office of the President of Mexico/WikimediaCommons
27 December 2013 Gateway House

Mexico: Country of the year

The reforms initiated by President Enrique Pena Nieto may have started a new era of economic and social transformation in Mexico. The reforms, and the manner in which four major political parties of the country committed consensual support to vital policies, can be an inspiration for democracies across the world
michelle Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
18 December 2013 Gateway House

The return of the Left in Chile

The return of the Left after four years, with the election this week of Michelle Bachelet as the president of Chile, will not mean any drastic change of direction. Chile has the most stable democracy and dynamic market in Latin America, and its Left can become a model for other countries, including India
honduras Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons, Flickr
18 December 2013 Gateway House

A long road ahead for Honduras

The elections in Honduras returned to power the right-wing National Party. In contrast to the policies of other Latin American governments, in Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the region, poverty alleviation is not a priority for the conservatives. Will president-elect Juan Hernandez address this problem?