External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about ‘The India Century’ at the NDTV World Summit in New Delhi today. During the conversation, Shri Jaishankar gave detailed information on India’s foreign policy and how it is increasingly playing a global role.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV World, Mr Jaishankar discussed the entire gamut of relations – from the US and China to Russia and India’s neighbourhood. He also spoke a few lines about Pakistan.
When asked about Russia relations, the External Affairs Minister made it very clear that India’s relations with Russia have stood the test of time and are of utmost importance. Explaining his point, he said, “I will put it before you very simply. If you look at our history with the Soviet Union and then with Russia since independence in 1947, I can say with confidence and knowledge that this No one in the room can refute that.” , that Russia has never done anything to negatively impact India’s interest,” adding that in geopolitics, “this is a big statement because there are not many major countries in the world for which that is the case.” Statement can be given.
He further told NDTV World that “Today, Russia’s situation is different and Russia’s relationship with the West has broken down. Now we have a Russia that is turning more towards Asia (than Europe and the West) , So we should ask ourselves whether Russia is paying more attention to Asia, shouldn’t Russia have many options in Asia? And as an Asian country, shouldn’t we (India) do what we can in Asia? Is it in our national interest?”
“Clearly, Russia as a major natural resource power complements India at this stage of development, when we are big resource consumers. People talk about Russian oil, but it is just about oil. No. It could be about fertilizers, metals, etc. So, there is a big economic logic in this,” Mr. Jaishankar said.
Mr Jaishankar further said that apart from the economic relationship, there is also a strategic relationship. He explained that “There is a basic strategic logic – that if you look at the Eurasian landmass, there are 3 big countries (Russia, China and India). It is one-to-one in international relations, that one country will always be that country’s Maintain a balance in relationships with who is your nearest neighbor – and do so in a very good way.”
Mr Jaishankar reiterated, “So, there is a strategic logic, there is an economic fit, and overall there has been a very positive history of the relationship, so that is how it is viewed.”
decisive with china
Mr Jaishankar today added to what India’s Foreign Secretary said earlier in the day about “positive outcomes” emerging from the standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control, saying Indian and Chinese troops will be able to resume patrolling as before. . This is being done before the border confrontation began in May 2020.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that India and China have reached a patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas, and this could lead to withdrawal of troops and resolution of tensions.
Jaishankar told NDTV World, “We have reached an agreement on patrolling and we are back to the 2020 status quo. With this we can say that the disengagement with China is complete. Details will come in due course.” Will come forward.”
“There are areas which after 2020 for various reasons, they blocked us, we blocked them. We have now reached an understanding which will allow patrolling as we were doing till 2020,” Mr Jaishankar said. Explained.
The success came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia yesterday to attend the BRICS summit.
India’s Neighborhood First Policy
Speaking about how India’s top priority has always been to foster good relations with its neighbours, Mr Jaishankar emphasized that New Delhi has always played a positive and friendly role towards its neighbours.
Citing the examples of Sri Lanka, Bhutan and even Maldives and Bangladesh, the External Affairs Minister explained how India has always tried to build a neighborhood of cooperation and harmony.
Explaining this, Mr Jaishankar said, “Our neighborhood is democratic which means political changes will keep happening. We will often be the subject of their politics. We have to incorporate this in our policies. If we can make a record of being one that The country is a reliable friend in any crisis, if they understand that this country is India which is generous, which is big, if we create that record and that is what I think we have stepped up during the Sri Lanka crisis, S Jaishankar said. Said, Lanka, we have seen a huge change.
He praised the country, saying, “Bhutan had the wisdom to cooperate on power. This is a lesson everyone should learn.”
‘Justin Trudeau’ problem
Speaking about relations with Canada, Mr Jaishankar said the Justin Trudeau government is having trouble finding out from Indian diplomats what is happening there with respect to India.
Highlighting the “double standards” of the Trudeau government and stressing that saying so is an understatement, Mr Jaishankar said he is responsible for how he behaves domestically and how he behaves globally. Passes have different standards.
“Canada has asked us to subject our High Commissioner to police investigation and we decided to withdraw our High Commissioner… It seems that they have a problem with our diplomats finding out what is happening in Canada Which is directly related to their welfare and safety,” he said.
On the other hand, the license they grant themselves is “completely separate from the restrictions placed on diplomats in Canada,” he said. “Canadian diplomats have no problem with our military or our police going in, profiling people, targeting people they stop in Canada,” he said.
“When we tell them that you have some people openly threatening Indian leaders and diplomats, their reaction is freedom of speech… If you threaten the Indian High Commissioner, they will see it as freedom of speech. Must be accepted, but if an Indian journalist says the Canadian High Commissioner got very angry and walked out of South Block, this is clearly foreign interference.”
tour of pakistan
At the end of his talk at the NDTV World Summit, Mr Jaishankar said a line about Pakistan. Summarizing his visit to Islamabad, he said, “India is a good member of the SCO. We were very supportive of Pakistan becoming president this year and wanted the proceedings to be smooth. Shake hands and came back.”
