Indian diplomacy successful in forging ties with competing powers: EAM

Highlighting the achievements of Indian diplomacy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that New Delhi has effectively built relationships with multiple and often competing powers, calling it an “important” milestone.

Speaking at the third convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University in Lavad, Gandhinagar, Jaishankar emphasized that geopolitical considerations often revolve around identifying reliable partners in difficult times.

He said, “It has been a significant achievement of Indian diplomacy that we have been successful in forging relationships with multiple and often competing powers.”

Highlighting the positive impact of overall national development since 2014, which has addressed the security shortcomings, Jaishankar said, “Strong efforts have been made, especially in the last decade, to correct the shortcomings of the previous ones. The national strengths we have seen since 2014 have clearly had positive security implications, whether internally, externally or at the border.”

“There are some basic components of these capabilities that we are all familiar with. How to acquire and develop weapons and development-related capabilities has been at the heart not only of our business policies, but even of our diplomacy. In fact, a large part of our geoplotic calculations rests on the question of which countries are reliable partners in times of stress,” he added.

The Foreign Secretary affirmed that the security factor is “deeply” entrenched in India's strategy and diplomacy as it navigates a competitive world.

“We deeply embed the safety factor in our strategy and in our diplomacy as we enter a competitive world. The scope of what we are looking for obviously reflects growing interest, greater ambitions and, indeed, the nature of warfare… What we would consider relevant to National Security itself has a much broader definition,” the EAM said.

“We have long been familiar with the concept of dual technology, which has been further expanded to include critical and emerging technologies,” he added.

Jaishankar had earlier said that India is now seen as a 'credible and effective development partner'.

Jaishankar highlighted India's transformation into a 'credible and effective development partner', with a development portfolio spanning 78 countries.

“In our travels abroad, I am pleased to report that we are now seen as a credible and effective development partner. Our portfolio of development partnerships now covers 78 countries and the hallmark of these projects is that they are demand-driven, transparent and empowering. oriented, eco-friendly and relying on a consultative approach,” Jaishankar underlined.

The minister highlighted India's role in promoting digital public infrastructure and sharing best practices in digital governance, especially with the Global South.

“We have also taken the lead in promoting digital public infrastructure and sharing best practices in digital governance, especially with the South,” he added.

EAM Jaishankar emphasized that international affairs have become “unprecedented and complex”. He noted that India's people-centered policies are guided by the demands and aspirations of society and that “India speaks as the voice of peace, security and prosperity for all”.

“At a time when international affairs have become unprecedented and complex, our people-centered foreign policy is guided by the demands and aspirations of our society. Today the world recognizes that when India speaks, it speaks not just for itself, but for many. others,” Jaishankar had said.

“And that India speaks as the voice of peace, security and prosperity for all. While serving as a force for global well-being and stability, we have also vigorously defended our national interests,” he added.

First print: December 23, 2023 | 1:48 p.m IST