Snehesh Alex Philip joins Firstpost as Defence & Diplomatic Affairs Editor

Firstpost has strengthened its editorial team with the addition of Snehesh Alex Philip, one of India's most experienced journalists covering defence, national security, diplomacy and strategic affairs, as Editor-Defence and Diplomatic Affairs. With more than two decades in journalism, Snehesh brings deep domain knowledge and extensive reporting experience across some of the most consequential developments shaping India's security and its place in the world.

His appointment comes as questions surrounding national security, shifting geopolitical alignments, defence capabilities and international partnerships take on increasing significance. From India's military modernisation and indigenous defence manufacturing to its evolving relationships with major global powers, these developments demand reporting that goes beyond the immediate headline to examine the decisions, interests and strategic calculations at play.

Snehesh most recently served as Editor – Defence and Diplomacy at ThePrint, where he spent nearly eight years leading the publication's coverage of India's defence and foreign policy. Before that, he was the Press Trust of India's correspondent in Pakistan, becoming the youngest Indian journalist to be posted in the country.

Over the course of his career, he has extensively covered India's military and diplomatic engagements, defence modernisation programmes, indigenous manufacturing and emerging national security challenges. His reporting has also examined India's evolving strategic relationships with the United States, China, Russia, France and countries across Europe.

Snehesh brings to Firstpost a combination of deep subject expertise, access to key decision-makers across the defence and diplomatic establishment, and an understanding of the strategic questions shaping India's national security.

Binoy Prabhakar, Chief Content Officer, Firstpost, said: “Defence, diplomacy and national security are central to understanding India's place in a rapidly changing world. Snehesh brings more than two decades of experience and a depth of understanding of this landscape. His reporting and insight will add significant strength to Firstpost's coverage of these issues as we continue to build a newsroom that helps audiences make sense of the forces shaping India and the world.”