On Sunday, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, commented on how Europe is having a hard time adapting to the changing world. He stated that India is looking for partners, not teachers. Jaishankar pointed out that Europe needs to rethink how it works with India if it wants to cooperate meaningfully.
He mentioned, “When we look at the world, we look for partners, we don’t look for preachers.” By “preachers,” he means countries that tell others how to act but don’t follow their own advice. He believes some European countries still struggle with this issue.
Jaishankar also shared that the United States has become more self-sufficient lately, meaning it can meet its own needs better than before. He added that as global situations change, India will face more competition and challenges.
During the Arctic Circle India Forum, he talked about India’s increasing role in the Arctic region, emphasizing that India has been active in Antarctica for over 40 years. Recently, India has focused on the Arctic by creating a dedicated policy and forming international partnerships.
Jaishankar highlighted that climate change is opening new shipping routes in the Arctic, which will affect the global economy. He mentioned, “What happens in the Arctic is very important for us because our economy is growing.”
As global tensions rise, Jaishankar believes the Arctic’s importance to global politics will only increase. He noted that the future of the Arctic is closely linked to many world events and debates.
Ólafur Ragnar Grimsson, a former President of Iceland, agreed with Jaishankar. He stressed that India’s economic future will benefit from Arctic resources. Grimsson encouraged Indian economists to pay close attention to changes in the Arctic, especially with shifting alliances between countries like China, Russia, and the US.
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