S Jaishankar

Use of terrorism as instrument of statecraft unacceptable: Jaishankar

The usage of terrorism as an "instrument of statecraft" is simply unacceptable, and it can never be justified or rationalised, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday and flagged that it continues because "not all states really display zero tolerance" to the menace. Despite history holding so many lessons on it, "some still allow political calculations to take precedence", he said in his address at an event here without naming any country. At an event held here to mark the 75th anniversary of Chinmaya Mission, he underlined the importance of peace, especially amid the ongoing conflicts in the world. "Let us consider the indivisibility of peace. Now, war anywhere threatens peace everywhere," the Union minister said. He cited the conflicts in Ukraine and the West Asia region curently underway, and asserted that India expresses global sentiment when it says that dialogue and diplomacy is the only solution. "Terrorism is another deadly threat to peace. Its usage as an ..

Matter of 'deep concern': EAM Jaishankar on situation in West Asia

The situation in West Asia remains a matter of "deep concern" and India will support all efforts to promote peace through dialogue and diplomacy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday during talks with his counterpart from the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Al Nahyan, who is also the deputy prime minister of the UAE, landed in Mumbai on Monday night on a two-day visit. His trip to India comes amid a fresh wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia reportedly by the Houthi militants. In his televised opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar also made a mention of how the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE has significantly enhanced bilateral trade and economic ties. "The situation in the Gulf remains a matter of deep concern. We will continue to work together and support all efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy," he said. "We continue to support free, safe and unimpeded flow of trade, energy and fertiliser. I would a

EAM S Jaishankar, Swift's CEO discuss facilitating smooth commerce

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Swift's CEO Javier Perez-Tasso here on Monday and said they discussed the importance of facilitating smooth and efficient global commerce, and also exchanged views on geopolitical challenges in this context. Headquartered in Belgium, Swift is a globally inclusive organisation that serves institutions and individuals all over the world, according to its website. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar said, "Glad to meet SWIFT CEO Javier Perez-Tasso in New Delhi today. Discussed the importance of facilitating smooth and efficient global commerce. "Also exchanged views on geopolitical challenges in this context. @swiftcommunity.

US is 'very close' to finalising a trade deal with India: Marco Rubio

The US is "very close" to finalising a trade deal with India, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, suggesting that the waiver from tariffs for buying Russian oil was linked to the decision. "We're trying to finalise the trade deal with India right now. We're very close to doing that. So that's one of the things we take into consideration when the President makes a decision about national security waivers and things of that nature," Rubio told reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Rubio is set to travel to India and meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai to discuss issues ranging from energy, trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies and other key areas of bilateral cooperation. Rubio appeared to acknowledge the reasons for India to continue buying oil from Russia, an issue that has been the focus of talks between him and Jaishankar since the US passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act in September. "You also can't unravel the economy of other ...

Trade to trust: India steps up neighbourhood play with economic support

India is strengthening ties with South Asian neighbours through high-level diplomacy, trade negotiations, financial assistance and connectivity projects amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Hosting foreign dignitaries outside Delhi not a new practice, says MEA

The ministry said hosting foreign dignitaries in different Indian cities has been a longstanding practice, rejecting Congress claims that the US had 'summoned' Jaishankar to Mumbai

Jaishankar calls for urgent multilateral reform amid changing global order

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for "urgent" reform of multilateral institutions to reflect the changing global order, saying stronger cooperation among smaller groups of countries could support the process. Jaishankar made the remarks during a session of the Raisina Dialogue's Middle East edition in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, where he joined UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan for a discussion on 'The World Ahead: Power, Purpose & Possibility'. Highlighting the increasing pace of change in the global order during the conversation, the minister said it reflected both "long-term trends and immediate shocks", prompting countries to explore new partnerships and alternatives in response to their specific circumstances. "New partnerships and fresh options are inevitably explored in that pursuit," he said in a social media post after the discussion. This required countries to move beyond traditional comfort zones and develop ...

LAC must be stable for normalisation of ties with China: EAM Jaishankar

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) has to be stable for normalising relations between India and China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, asserting that any disturbance along the border will have consequences. Jaishankar also linked expansion of trade and investment ties between the two countries to peace and tranquillity along the border. "The point we make to the Chinese is: 'If you want a normal relationship, if the rest of the relationship is to move, it's common sense -- It is a no-brainer that the boundary has to be stable and that we need peace and tranquillity in the border areas'," he said. Jaishankar, speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Tuesday evening, noted that the situation along the LAC has "settled down" to a great extent since 2024 and that the relationship is "commensurately moving towards normalcy." In the last few months, both sides have rolled out a series of confidence-building measures to repair ties frayed by the more than ...

India-US trade deal talks nearing 'landing point', says Jaishankar

India and the US are continuing to engage to iron out differences on the proposed trade deal, and negotiations are heading towards a "landing point," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, while noting that the core fundamentals of the bilateral strategic partnership remain unchanged. The external affairs minister's comments on the trade negotiations came over a week after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the talks on the trade deal have reached a "plateau". "I think we are waiting on a few things. I wouldn't be comfortable spilling the beans in public," he said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Tuesday evening when asked about the status of the negotiations between the two sides. Jaishankar said India's trade minister, the US Trade Representative (USTR) and other officials concerned are engaged in talks to move forward on the bilateral trade pact. "When countries negotiate with an economy like the United States, obviously one part of it is what you work out .

Jaishankar outlines key foreign policy objectives on US, China, Russia ties

From advancing trade ties with the US and Europe to managing the China border dispute and preserving Russia ties, Jaishankar outlined India's priorities on major global relationships

Jaishankar holds talks with Ethiopian counterpart; discusses trade

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Gedion Timothewos Hessebon on Friday, covering areas such as trade, investment, technology, maritime, security, and culture. Jaishankar, who arrived here from Cote d'Ivoire on the final leg of his three-nation tour of African countries, said he was delighted to meet Foreign Minister Hessebon. "Had wide-ranging discussions on strengthening our bilateral ties, covering trade, investment, development projects to infrastructure, maritime, security, technology and culture," he said in a post on social media. They also exchanged perspectives on global developments, as well as strengthening multilateral engagement and the India-African Union partnership. "The India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership is based on our shared values, common aspirations and historic South-South solidarity," Jaishankar said. Jaishankar, who was welcomed at the airport by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Berhanu Tsegaye,

Jaishankar on 5-day visit to Africa to strengthen trade and investment ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Ghana, Ethiopia and Côte d'Ivoire, with talks set to focus on trade, investment, critical minerals and development cooperation

UN is gridlocked, no longer represents wider global interests: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday called for reform in the United Nations, saying the global body has become "irrelevant" to the decision-making on major global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gulf. He said this in response to a question during an interactive session held at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave here. Jaishankar last month addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. At the conclave, the external affairs minister (EAM) was asked what in his view is the future of the UN, and the future of multilateral institutions in the world. "Where the UN is concerned, I think it's obvious to everybody by now that the UN is gridlocked. If you look at the big issues of the day, whether you look at the conflict in the Gulf, whether you look at the conflict in Ukraine, whether you look at other issues in Africa, whether you look at Covid, actually, the United Nations has been largely irrelevant to the decision-making," Jaishankar

Kautilya Conclave: Need multi-alignment to navigate world, says Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister says India is working towards a limited resolution on grain and fertiliser shipments, while rejecting the idea of a global trading system without the US

Major food crisis coming for Global South, says EAM S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister says trade negotiations created bumps in India-US ties, while Washington's approach to terrorism and mobility also affected the relationship

India-China ties 'better' today than a couple of years ago: EAM Jaishankar

The ties between India and China are "better" today as compared to a couple of years ago, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, underlining that as the border issues are resolved, the relationship returns to normalcy. Jaishankar was responding to a question on India-China relations, which have seen an upswing in recent times, including with President Xi Jinping's recent visit to India for the BRICS Leaders' Summit hosted by New Delhi. "If you asked me, compared to where you were in 2025, is the relationship better today? I would say yes. Compared to 2024, even more so," Jaishankar said during a conversation hosted at Asia Society on Monday. He said it's not so much a "structural change", but part of the reason why things have improved is "they had gone so much off-track that the moment you stabilised it, it was going to improve, because after what happened in 2020 and the long standoff that we had on the border, the relationship had really been impacted." Following the 2

Trade agreement can contribute to 'better' India-US ties, says Jaishankar

A trade agreement between India and the US, if concluded, would contribute to "better" bilateral ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, noting that expectations of rapid progress in negotiations had been "tested" against a much more complex ground reality. Jaishankar addressed prominent members of the Indian-American and diaspora community as well as policy experts on Monday at a special conversation hosted by the Asia Society, as the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly concluded in New York. During a conversation moderated by former American diplomat and distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute Daniel Russel, Jaishankar was asked about India-US relations, particularly developments related to trade and tariffs over the past year, and what would have to happen to put the bilateral relationship on a "better track". "Well, I think if I stand back and look at the relationship,... I note that much of the world has had a more difficu

Indian delegation reaches Islamabad for three-day SCO coordinators' meet

National coordinators will discuss activities under Pakistan's SCO chairmanship and preparations for upcoming meetings ahead of the leaders' summit in August 2027

Russia-Europe balancing act ahead for India as Modi lines up Dec visits

India faces a delicate diplomatic balancing act as Modi plans visits to Western countries and Russia amid shifting global ties

Nations should shape own AI ecosystems, says EAM Jaishankar at UNGA

Jaishankar said countries should shape their own AI ecosystems in line with national priorities, with AI forming part of India's Global South partnerships