External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Olafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President of Iceland and Chairman of the Arctic Circle, and discussed the activities of the Arctic Circle. This is an important step in India’s global environment diplomacy.
“Pleased to meet @ORGrimsson, former President of Iceland and Chair of @_Arctic_Circle. Discussed Arctic Circle activities and possibility of deeper cooperation,” Mr Jaishankar posted on Twitter.
Pleased to meet the former President and Chairman of Iceland @_Arctic Circle @ORGrimsson,
Discussed Arctic Circle activities and the possibility of deeper cooperation. pic.twitter.com/mchwJyrSVP
– Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 2 January 2025
The Arctic Circle India Forum will be held in New Delhi in May this year in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation think tank.
Mr Grimson wrote in his post, “Discussion with FM @DrSJaishankar at the @_Arctic_Circle #India Forum and next Assembly in May on #PolarDialogue, #geopolitical & #geoeconomic importance of the #Arctic, #Greenland & #Trump & more There was a lot involved.” X account.
Mr Jaishankar had posted a year-end video on Twitter and said, “2024 sees a foreign policy that positions India as #Vishvabandhu. It will be a year of new opportunities, deeper partnerships and a firm commitment to India First and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.” It’s another year!”
2024 saw a foreign policy that positioned India as a #Vishwabandhu,
This is another year of new opportunities, deeper partnerships and a strong commitment to India First and Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam!#HappyNewYear2025 pic.twitter.com/SzYaCC888p
– Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 1 January 2025
The Arctic Circle is a network of international dialogue and cooperation about the future of the Arctic and planet Earth. Participants include governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks and others.
Through this engagement, India is prioritizing scientific cooperation, and also integrating its strategic, environmental and economic interests with the changing dynamics of the Arctic.
Furthermore, India adopted its own Arctic policy in 2022, titled, ‘India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development’. The policy is based on six pillars, which strengthen India’s scientific research and collaboration, climate and environmental protection, economic and human development, transportation and connectivity, governance and international cooperation and national capacity building in the field.
India is overseeing polar research through its Himadri Research Station in Svalbard, Norway and its Arctic policy can play an important role in enabling the country to tackle the challenges through collective will and effort.
