Seafood is not just known to keep your heart healthy, but in politics, world leaders have used them to win hearts as well. Below are a few incidents in the world of politics that involved relationships being built over seafood.

In the Indian sub-continent:

“Hilsa diplomacy” that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheik Hasina mastered, has won the hearts of many seafood loving Indian leaders right from the time the Ganges water sharing treaty was signed between India and Bangladesh. She has won favours with Jyoti Basu, cooked Hilsa for ex-president Pranab Mukherji and might have even convinced Mamta Banerjee to share the waters of Teesta river. Inspite of the negative outcome, the relationship between Mamta Banerjee and Sheik Hasina is reported to be very good. We are optimistic that the Teesta agreement will be signed and waters are shared amicably in the upcoming years benefitting the common people on both sides of the border.

Korean Peninsula:

During the latter part of last year, the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in visited Taedong River Seafood Restaurant in North Korea and continued his trademark “local restaurant” diplomacy. The restaurant is in the shape of a boat and you can get salmon, rainbow trout and crabs. It opened last year and is very popular with the locals and foreigners alike. Here is hoping that there is a significant thaw in relations and North Korea joins the community of nations soon.

Putin and Erdogan:

Discussing the sale of military equipment while eating fish or lobsters? Yes. That is precisely what Putin and Erdogan may end up doing when they discuss the sale of S-400 anti-air systems by Russia to Turkey. “Dearest friend Putin” as Erdogan calls the Russian president, had promised to take Putin to a restaurant famous for its seafood in Istanbul.

Putin and George Bush:

During George Bush’s presidency, both Vladmir Putin and he met frequently to reduce all form of tension and disagreements that existed during that period. One such bonding exercise took place when George Bush invited Putin to Kennebunkport, the Maine summer retreat of George Bush Senior. Whilst there, they went for fishing and Putin ended up catching a striped bass 30 inches (76 cms) long. However, the fishing and the lobster dinner talk did not do much in terms of resolving any big issues during that time.

So, while seafood diplomacy has worked at times, it has had a tepid or moderate success few other times. But hey, there is no denying that seafood is great for starting a conversation and most often win hearts of political adversaries.

Image Courtesy: Business Insider