Jaishankar to Europe: India Seeks Partners, Not Preachers
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday called for greater sensitivity and shared interests in India-Europe relations, asserting that New Delhi seeks equal partnerships, not lectures. Speaking at the Arctic Circle India Forum, Jaishankar emphasised that deeper engagement with India requires a mutual understanding, not ideological preaching, particularly from those who fail to practice what they preach at home.
When we look at the world, we look for partners, not preachers—especially not those who don’t practice what they preach, Jaishankar said in response to a question about India’s expectations from Europe. Some of Europe is still struggling with that problem, although there has been progress,” he noted, suggesting that parts of the continent are undergoing a reality check in how they approach global partnerships.
He underscored that building a sustainable India-Europe partnership must be based on “understanding, sensitivity, and mutuality of interest and acknowledged that progress on this front varies across different European nations.
Addressing the broader geopolitical landscape, Jaishankar reiterated India’s pragmatic stance on global affairs, particularly concerning Russia and the United States. “Just like I’m an advocate of Russia realism, I’m also an advocate of America realism,” he said, advocating for an interest-based approach in dealing with both powers.
Reflecting on Western projections during the early stages of the conflict, Jaishankar said many of the dire predictions from 2022 and 2023 “have turned out not to be well-founded.” Despite global tensions and Western disapproval, India has maintained strong ties with Moscow, including increased purchases of Russian crude oil.
On the broader implications of shifting global power dynamics, including in the Arctic region, Jaishankar noted that the changing world order continues to shape both geopolitical alignments and India’s approach to international partnerships.