Minister S Jaishankar Archives - Lokmarg

Palestinians Have Been Denied Their Homeland: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 27th March 2024

In a strong statement on the Israel-Palestine issue, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that whatever the rights and wrongs in the whole conflict between Israel and Palestine, the underlying fact is that the Palestinians have been denied their rights and homeland.

He stated that what transpired on October 7 was a ‘terrorist attack’ but also acknowledged, in reference to the Israeli counteroffensive in Gaza, that every response must take into account something called international humanitarian law.

Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Malaysia, was interacting with the Indian community during an event.

“How different pulls and pressures can be. On one hand, what happened on October 7 was terrorism. On the other hand, nobody would countenance the death of innocent civilians. Countries may be justified in their own minds in responding, but you cannot have a response that…every response must take into account something called international humanitarian law,” Jaishankar said.

“The fact is whatever the rights and wrongs of the issue, there is underlying issue of the rights of the Palestinians and the fact that they have been denied their homeland,” he added.

Hamas launched a horrific terror attack in Israel on October 7 killing more than 1200 people and holding more than 250 people as hostages, out of which over 100 are still in captivity.

In response, Israel launched a strong counteroffensive in the Gaza Strip targeting the Hamas units. However, the operation has also resulted in civilian casualties. According to Gaza ministry, more than 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza including women and children.

Notably, PM Modi was one of the first global leaders to condemn the horrific terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7.

However, India has also continued with its weight behind the ‘two-state solution’ to the long-running Israel-Palestine conflict.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar is on an official visit to Malaysia, followed by his visits to Singapore and the Philippines.

Earlier in the day, he called on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and expressed admiration for his vision aimed at fostering stronger ties between India and Malaysia. He also emphasised that this vision will serve as a catalyst for crafting a more ambitious agenda to advance the relationship between the two nations.

He also held a round-table meeting with CEOs in Malaysia and appreciated their growing interest in partnering with Indian industries.

“A productive round-table meeting with CEOs in Malaysia. Glad to hear about growing interest in partnering with Indian industries. Encouraged them to join in India’s growth story. Discussed geopolitical developments that can provide more opportunities in business interactions,” the EAM posted on X. (ANI)

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Jaishankar Slams Pak Over Industry Level Terrorism

By LokMarg 24th March 2024

Emphasising the complex situation of dealing with a neighbour like Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Islamabad uses terrorism as an instrument of statecraft and does not even hide from the fact.

He affirmed that India will not skirt this problem anymore and the mood in the country is not to overlook the issue of terrorism.

The EAM, who is in Singapore as part of his three-nation visit, was speaking at the Institute of South Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore on his book ‘Why Bharat Matters’.

Speaking at the event, Jaishankar said, “Every country wants a stable neighbourhood…we have been unfortunate, or ill-starred to be blessed with the one we have to our west. How do you deal with a neighbour, who does not hide the fact that they use terrorism as an instrument of statecraft?”

Taking a veiled dig at Pakistan, the EAM said that in the country, terrorism exists almost at “industry level” and “assembly line”.

“It’s not a one-off, different countries at different points of time have experienced this. But, a very sustained, almost an industry level, assembly line…people whose job is to do bad things at night,” he said.

Jaishankar added that India has decided that it will have to find a way to address the problem because dodging it will only invite more trouble.

“I don’t have a quick, instantaneous fix, but what I can tell you is that India will not skirt this problem anymore…if we have a problem, we must be honest enough to face up to the problem. If you have to have those discussions, we should, if it’s hard to find a solution, we must work through. We should not give the other country free pass…in India the mood is not to overlook terrorism,” the EAM said.

“If you look at the changes that have happened in the last decade, the great deal of public anger to lack of response to terrorism threat is one factor,” he added.

Jaishankar is on an official visit to Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia from March 23-27.

The visit will focus on enhancing bilateral relations with the three countries, and would provide an opportunity for engagement on regional issues of mutual concern, a Ministry of External Affairs release said earlier. (ANI)

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India-Japan Ties Will Draw Strength Especially From Quad: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 8th March 2024

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday emphasised that India-Japan ties will both draw strength from larger activities together, especially from the Quad.

Speaking at Nikkei Forum on the India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership, EAM said that solutions for India and Japan nationally, as well as regionally and globally, lie there.

“My argument is that India-Japan ties will both draw strength from our larger activities together, especially from the quad, but also contribute to its effectiveness and its breadth,” he said.

Jaishankar added, “The bottom line is that the world is changing, the Indo-Pacific is changing, and India and Japan are changing, but in our relationship, many solutions for us nationally, as well as region and for the world lie there.”

Jaishankar is on a visit to Japan from March 6-8 for the 16th India-Japan Foreign Minister’s Strategic Dialogue with his Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa.

He further stressed that India-Japan relationships need to be continuously tended at various levels.

“They also need to be constantly refreshed,” he added.

EAM highlighted that there will always be new complexities but equally fresh opportunities will also be there. “This is how India and Japan should approach each other today,” he said.

After holding discussions with his Japanese counterpart, he said, “We are convergent on the big picture and the key concerns.”

He stressed that our inclination and ability to respond in a more coordinated manner have also improved.

Highlighting the defence sector, Jaishankar noted that a bilateral military exercise is going on between India and Japan as of now.

Moving further to investment, he said, “It is much better in investment, though trade remains flatter than we would wish.”

India and Japan are also having an active conversation on emerging technologies that hold much promise, he said.

“Creating new supply chains and building a stronger digital connection are priorities for both of us,” EAM said.

Moreover, he also emphasised that both nations are working well together in world politics, including, of late, in multilateral organisations.

However, people-to-people linkages, lag behind and clearly need more attention, he stressed.

When asked about whether China is part of the Global South or not, as it was not part of the Global South Summit, Jaishankar said, “At the two summits (Global South Summit), which we conveyed, I don’t believe China was present.”

Earlier on Thursday, addressing the Raisina Roundtable in Tokyo, Jaishankar, citing the turbulence in India’s relationship with China amid the border standoff, said that it is a cause of concern if a country doesn’t observe written agreements with its neighbours and also raises a question on the said country’s intentions.

India’s foreign minister also said that when big power shifts take place in the Indo-Pacific region, there are accompanying and strategic consequences.

He further said that although countries intend to keep relationships stable despite changing dynamics but that has not been the case with China.

“It’s not an issue whether you like or not like it, there is a reality out there and you have to deal with that. Ideally, we would assume ‘Everybody would say okay, things are changing but let’s keep it as stable as we can’. Unfortunately, that’s not what we have seen in the last decade,” Jaishankar said. (ANI)

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Important That Japan Today Appreciates Pace Of Change In India: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 7th March 2024

Hailing India’s growth story, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that it is important that Japan today appreciate the pace of change in India.

Jaishankar, who is in Japan on a three-day visit from March 6-8, participated in the first Raisina Roundtable in Tokyo today.

Addressing the event there, the EAM said, “I think it is important that Japan today appreciates the pace of change in India. This is a country today which is building 28 kms of highway everyday, which is creating 8 new airports every year, which is establishing one and half- to two metros every year, which has for the last 10 years built two new colleges everyday…”

Emphasising India’s flourishing growth, Jaishankar said that “This transformation of India makes us a more effective and credible partner, whether it is ease of doing business, ease of living, digital delivery, startup and innovation culture or shaping the international agenda, India is clearly a very different country today.”

He said India is working on major corridors today, both to its east and west.

“They include the IMAC (India Middle East-Europe Corridor) initiative through the Arabian peninsula and the international north-south transport corridor and towards east the trilateral highway…these corridors when completed will connect the Atlantic to the Pacific through Asia. Two nations (India and Japan) have converging views about the need for transparent and collaborative connectivity,” Jaishankar said at the Raisina Roundtable organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in Tokyo.

The External Affairs Minister also spoke at length on Global South and underlined that India is conscious of the responsibility.

“As the voice of the global south, India is conscious of the responsibility, our development efforts today spans 78 nations across different continents, can India and Japan coordinate in regards to their developmental systems?…maritime safety and security have become particularly pressing concerns.”

“We can see that at the Red Sea, we had first casualties…it is also necessary to strengthen our defence capabilities for the benefit of the larger region…” Jaishankar asserted.

The Houthis have been carrying out attacks on commercial and military shipping in Red Sea since November, halting global trade route. The Houthis initially said that they would target Israel-linked ships in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, but later expanded their targets to include vessels linked to the United Kingdom and the US.

Jaishankar is notably on a visit to Japan from March 6-8. Before this, he visited South Korea, where he met the top leaders during his stay.

He is in Japan for the 16th India-Japan Foreign Minister’s Strategic Dialogue with his Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa.

The two ministers are expected to discuss issues of bilateral, regional and global importance, and exchange views on cooperation for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, according to MEA. (ANI)

Earlier today, Jaishankar said the overall balance should remain in favour of freedom, openness, and rules-based order.

“As to powers that are so central to multipolarity in Asia, it is also in our common interest that the overall balance remains in favour of the freedom, openness, transparency, and rules-based order,” he said.

“The world will watch how we will support each other in the shared goal through various relationships and initiatives…” the EAM noted.

He also asserted how “new balances are being sorted and occasionally achieved.”

“This session is about how India and Japan, who enjoy special a special strategic and global partnership, intent to meet the challenges facing the global order. There are many aspects to this subject…,” Jaishankar said. (ANI)

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Uri, Balakot Sent Their Own Message: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 26th February 2024

Calling the national security a complicated calculus in today’s times, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted India’s response to Chinese incursions at the Line of Actual control (LAC) and towards cross-border terrorism from Pakistan through its ferocious responses in Uri and Balakot.

India carried out a surgical strike against terror units in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2016 in response to an attack at an army base in Uri, Kashmir. In 2019, after the Pulwama attack — which killed over 40 Indian soldiers — the Indian Air Force carried out an airstrike against Pakistani terror camps in Balakot.

The EAM was giving the Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru Memorial Lectures 2024 at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Convention Centre, on the topic of ‘Bharat and the World’.

Addressing the event on Monday, Jaishankar said, “The calculus of national security has become much more complicated. Traditional methods of competing and pressuring are buttressed by new tools of influence and disruption. Here too, Bharat has pushed back with determination and fortitude.”

He said that India has worked on developing border infrastructure, one of the aspect which the EAM said was “long neglected.” He added that India’s response to the cross-border terrorism were seen in the episodes of Uri and Balakot.

“When we were challenged on the LAC, with China, In the midst of COVID rapid and effective counter deployments were the appropriate answer. Seeking to rectify the long neglected of the border infrastructure. We have made the defence of the nation much more effective,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “On the largest stage when it came to the Indo-Pacific. We held firmly to our decision to establish and take forward the Quad. On the Western Front, the long standing challenge of cross-border terrorism now elicits more befitting responses. Believe me, Uri and Balakot sent their own message.”

Further, the EAM said that while ‘Bharat’ won’t shy away from answering questions, it also has the courage to question the questioners.

“Economically, Bharat’s answer is in greater Atmanirbharta. Politically, a more authentic and rooted representation that will contest the propaganda which will favour the compliant and discredit it. Bharat will never shy away from questions, but equally, Bharat has the courage to question the questioners,” he said.

Jaishankar also highlighted how India stood with its stand of procuring cheaper oil from Russia for its domestic interests countering Western pressure.

“The world now looks more volatile and uncertain, demanding independent and confident thinking from us. We have seen that already when it came to our energy procurement choices. Bharat chose the interest of its domestic consumers while resisting international pressure,” he further said. (ANI)

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India-Greece Ties Can Serve As Anchor: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 21st February 2024

Highlighting India’s burgeoning global presence, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised the nation’s growing interest in the Mediterranean region during his closing remarks at the Raisina Dialogue’s inaugural event on Wednesday.

Jaishankar’s observations underscored the pivotal role the India-Greece partnership plays in shaping the nation’s upward trajectory on the international stage.

“India’s growing interest in the Mediterranean region is an important facet of our steady rise. The India-Greece partnership can surely serve as an anchor,” he said while extending the vote of thanks following Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis remarks at the dialogue.

The Greek PM was the keynote speaker and chief guest of the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue.

Further drawing attention to the unique platform of the Raisina Dialogue, Jaishankar credited the event’s success to its diverse participants. Describing it as a “Made in India version of a Global Public Square,” he emphasised how the dialogue has evolved into its current stature due to the collective efforts of the participants, transforming it into a hub of global discourse.

EAM Jaishankar thanked the chief guest, PM Mitsotakis of Greece, and his wife for their participation. He commended the Greek PM for delivering an inspirational and thought-provoking address, especially highlighting the resonance of his message on democracies that deliver, which holds particular significance in the current global context.

Jaishankar then turned the spotlight on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising his presence as a symbol of India’s growing engagement with the world. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence amongst us, as always, is a reminder of India’s growing engagement with the world, especially in the last decade. He has shown us why it is as important to listen and reflect as it is to articulate and express,” the EAM said.

Delving into the day’s events, EAM Jaishankar emphasised the intensification of the strategic partnership between India and Greece, emphasising the shared responsibility of the two civilizational states to contribute to the contemporary global order.

“This event takes place at the end of a day which has seen the intensification of the strategic partnership between India and Greece established during Prime Minister Modi’s visit in 2023. As two civilizational states, our countries have a particular responsibility to contribute to the evolution of the contemporary global order,” he said.

“We both naturally tend to take a long view of challenges and a considered one of opportunities. In the flow of history, connectivity has always played a crucial role. It is only to be expected that the talks between the two prime ministers today focused on enhancing the linkage between two global economic centres, India and Europe,” the EAM added.

Highlighting the emerging opportunities, Jaishankar pointed out that as India deepens its footprint abroad, Greece has become a favourable destination.

“Our pharmaceutical industry, our agro-business and aviation are already established there. And the Prime Minister, in his address, mentioned growing Greek investment and interest in India. We expect that a mobility agreement will bring us even closer. Raisina is good for business as well,” the EAM said.

PM Modi and his Greek counterpart, who is currently on a visit to New Delhi, attended the inaugural session of the 9th Raisina Dialogue in the national capital.

The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. (ANI)

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Clearly, 30 Countries Saw Value In It: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 17th February 2024

Addressing the rise of BRICS and other middle powers in the evolving geopolitical landscape, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday applauded the intergovernmental organisation, stating a large number of countries “willing to join” the platform.

“Like any product, you test at a market, we tested it (BRICS) last year in the market, asking how many of want to join BRICS, and we got almost 30 countries who were willing to join BRICS,” he said, adding, “Clearly, 30 countries saw value in it, there must be something good with that.”

Jaishankar’s remarks came at the Munich Security Conference 2024. He was seated with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Annalena Baerbock.

The moderator Roula Khalaf had questioned Jaishankar and Blinken if the development of BRICS, and other groups poses a challenge to the West or potentially serves as a bridge, particularly amid the ongoing competition between the US and China.

Jaishankar emphasised the historical context of BRICS, highlighting that it originated during an era of strong Western dominance when the G7 held a premier position. “You had a number of significant powers in the world, who felt they were not member of G7 but maybe they also brought value to the table by sitting and discussing with others. So, in a sense you had a collection of these countries which were originally four and South Africa joined later,” he said.

“It’s a very interesting group, because it is geographically disparate as it as it can be, yet it is bound by the fact that these discussions, we’ve had in a decade and a half have been very useful for all of use,” he added.

BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Importantly, Jaishankar stressed the need to distinguish between being non-Western and anti-Western. “I think, its important today to make a distinction, between being non-West and anti-West, I’d not only characterise India as a country, which is non-West but which has an extremely strong relation with the Western countries, getting better by the days,” the EAM also said.

“Not everybody necessarily in that grouping might qualify for that description, but the contribution the BRICS has made, if one looks at G7 and how it evolved into the G20,” he added.

Agreeing with Jaishankar’s perspective, Antony Blinken emphasised the flexibility needed in global relations.

“I’m tempted to say what my friend said. What we don’t need to do and what we are not doing, is trying to design world into rigid blocks. Each issue we have to deal with in the interest of American people, may have different collections and coalitions of countries that bring certain experiences and capacities. I think to call that as variable geometry,” the US Secretary said.

Acknowledging the strength of the India-US relationship, Blinken emphasised that regardless of India’s role as a leading member of BRICS and the US as a leading member of G7, the two countries collaborate in various forums such as the G20, AUCUS, and the Quad.

“As Jai (EAM Jaishankar) said, the relationship between our countries is the strongest it’s ever been, makes no difference that India happens to be leading member of BRICS, we (the US) are leading member of G7. We have the G20 and we have multiple things that we are doing together in different ways,” he added.

“India and US working together in AUCUS, working together in Quad, and variety of other fora. All of this goes to point that complexity, demands we find different ways to work together and it shouldn’t be done on an exclusive basis. Our default of course is to work…with fellow democracies,” Blinken also said.

Meanwhile, on India’s stand and commitment to buy Russian oil despite respective sanctions on Moscow amid the military conflict with Ukraine, Jaishankar reaffirmed, saying, it should not be a problem for others.

On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2024, the EAM also called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh today.

Jaishankar began his engagements of MSC 2024 on Friday with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 is taking place from February 16 to 18, in Munich. The MSC 2024 offers a unique opportunity for high-level debates on the world’s most pressing security challenges. (ANI)

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India Does As Many E-Payments In A Month, As America Does In Three Yrs: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 22nd January 2024

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar drew an analogy while describing the country’s growth in digital public infrastructure and said that the number of cashless transactions the United States does in three years, India does in a month.

The EAM was interacting with the people of the Indian community in Nigeria on Sunday (local time).

“The life of every Indian citizen has become easier and this is because we have embraced technology in a very deep way. You can see this in payment, very few people today pay in cash and very few people accept cash…Today, we do as many cashless payments in India in a month as much as America does in three years,” Jaishankar said at the event.

He further highlighted the five major examples that showcase the transformation of India in the last decade.

“For me, how a country deals with a challenge, recovers from the challenge, and is able to pose such a strong economic performance, how the life of an average citizen becomes better, how we are capable of something that captures the imagination of the world and how do we look after our people outside the country. These are five true examples of what changed in India in the last decade,” Jaishankar said.

The EAM also lauded the way India dealt with Covid pandemic while pointing that many countries have still not been able to cope with the impact and highlighting that New Delhi brought back 7 million of its people from abroad.

“I take great heart, great hope and great faith from how India dealt with it. When Covid started, during a virtual meeting in 2020, it was said that the country that will be most unable to cope with Covid would be India. Two years later, I saw that we went through the Covid wave, and lockdowns…we started making medicines for the rest of the world,” he further said.

Stressing that India is the fastest-growing economy in the world, Jaishankar said that business sentiment about New Delhi has improved and as a result, the flow of investments into the country has reached its highest ever.

“Today, what is happening in the economy…we are the fastest-growing big economy in the world…but it is much more than that. Today, if you see the economic activity in India, wherever you go, something is being built. A metro is being built, a road is being built, new airports are coming up, new trains are coming up, railway stations are coming up. If you go to your village, piped water is coming up, there is electricity connection coming,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “There is a sense today that India is being built at a fantastic pace, not just being built, that growth rate actually covers many other things. You can see the flow of investment in India, the highest ever. Look at the business sentiment about India. For me, the real change is the change I see in our own people”.

Notably, Jaishankar is on a visit to Nigeria from January 21-23. During this, he will co-chair the 6th India-Nigeria Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart and meet with other leaders.

Prior to this, he also led the Indian delegation at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), to be held in Kampala, Uganda.

He also met several foreign leaders and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the summit.

The EAM will also inaugurate the 3rd edition of the Nigeria-India Business Council meeting, deliver a speech at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, interact with CII Business delegates and inaugurate the bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

He will also chair the regional conference of Indian Heads of Missions. India and Nigeria have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations. This is EAM’s first visit to Nigeria, which will further consolidate bilateral relations between the two countries, the release said. (ANI)

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Farsi To Be One Of India’s Nine Classical Languages: Jaishankar

By LokMarg 15th January 2024

In a significant move to deepen cultural ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that the Government of India has decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages in India under the New Education Policy.

“The government of India has decided to include Farsi as one of the nine classical languages of India in our New Education Policy,” said Jaishankar, highlighting the cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India.

Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Iran, made the above remarks during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, H Amir-Abdollahian on Monday.

This recognition reflects a commitment to fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Farsi’s rich heritage within the Indian educational framework. Tamil was the first language in India to be accorded classical language status in 2004. Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia are the other languages that have been declared classical languages in India by the central government.

“In addition to these classical languages Pali, Persian, and Prakrit; and their works of literature too must be preserved for their richness and for the pleasure and enrichment of posterity,” according to India’s National Education Policy-2020.

During the press conference, Jaishankar and Amir-Abdollahian delved into the political and economic aspects of their bilateral relations, emphasising the multifaceted nature of the diplomatic engagement. “The foreign minister and I specifically focused on its political and economic aspects, but naturally there were other domains as well,” the EAM said.

The ministers recognised the strength of people-to-people contacts and the profound cultural, literary, and linguistic ties that unite the two nations.

“Our people-to-people contacts have long been a strength. Iran and India are united by our deep cultural, literary, and linguistic ties, which create a unique foundation for increasing exchanges of tourists, students, artists, athletes, and scholars. We discussed how we can better link our cultural and educational institutions,” stated Jaishankar, underscoring the potential for enhanced cooperation in various fields.

Addressing the issue of regional connectivity, Jaishankar reiterated India’s interest in leveraging Iran’s strategic geographical position to access markets in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Eurasia. The ministers explored opportunities to strengthen economic ties and enhance regional connectivity for mutual benefit.

“Regional connectivity has been a critical pillar of India-Iran relations and was naturally prominent in the agenda of today’s discussions. I reiterated India’s interest in benefiting from Iran’s unique geographical position to access markets in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Eurasia,” he added.

Jaishankar expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive nature of the discussions, emphasising the frequent high-level interactions between the two countries. “My discussions today benefited from the fact that our countries have maintained a regular momentum of high-level interactions. PM Modi and President Raisi recently met in Johannesburg,” he highlighted.

“Our leaders have been in frequent touch through letters and phones. I also personally maintained regular contact with Abdollahian in recent days. We also held our Foreign Office Consultations just two months ago, and due to the regularity of these exchanges and the guidance provided by our leadership, there is a good basis to expand substantive cooperation in a variety of areas,” he also said.

Jaishakar also met Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development on Monday and discussed establishing a “long-term cooperation framework” for Chabahar Port, a strategic maritime facility situated on the southeastern coast of Iran.

EAM Jaishankar is in Iran as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. (ANI)

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Couldn’t Get Everything Agreed By Everybody: Jaishankar On Biden Not Attending R-Day

By LokMarg 2nd January 2024

With US President Joe Biden not able to make it to India in late January due to “scheduling demands”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the visit was tied to the proposed Quad Summit and indicated that the dates did not work with all partners.

In an interview with ANI, Jaishankar said that could not get “a landing zone” there and couldn’t get “everything agreed by everybody”.

“You know I think that was a different issue. because you know it was tied to Quad also and we couldn’t get a landing zone there…we couldn’t get everything agreed with everybody. So, therefore it didn’t work,” Jaishankar said.

He was asked if Biden could have come for the Republic Day parade and there could have been “Namaste Biden” event on the lines of the huge “Namaste Trump” event held in Ahmedabad to welcome the then US President Donald Trump during his visit to India in 2020.

Sources had said earlier that Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Summit, which was slated to be hosted by India in January, is now proposed to be held later in 2024. They had said that revised dates were under consideration as the current ones do not work with all the QUAD partners.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti had said in September that Biden was invited to India for Republic Day celebrations. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended invitation to Biden on the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in Delhi in September.

French President Emmanuel Macron, will be visiting India as the Chief Guest for the January 26 Republic Day celebrations at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Macron thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the invitation.

India and the US held the fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in November. India and the United States have a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering almost all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests on a range of issues, and vibrant people-to-people contacts.

During Biden’s visit to Delhi for the G20 Summit, India and the US also settled the seventh and last outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute. Notably, the six previous disputes were resolved during PM Modi’s state visit to the US.

The two leaders reaffirmed the close reaffirming the close and enduring partnership between India and the United States, according to the India-US joint statement. The two leaders expressed their “appreciation for the substantial progress underway to implement the groundbreaking achievements of Prime Minister Modi’s historic, June 2023, visit to Washington.”

The two leaders commended the progress in implementing the futuristic and wide-ranging outcomes of PM Modi’s State visit to the US in June 2023, including under the India-US Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

PM Modi made a significant visit to the United States in June last year, engaging in high-level talks with President Biden. The discussions centred on bolstering the Indo-US strategic partnership, with an emphasis on trade, defence collaboration, and technology transfer. They announced several key initiatives, including joint efforts in renewable energy and climate change mitigation. (ANI)

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