Page 2 - India Foreign Policy

Isolate, expose countries that harbour terrorists: India at SCO summit

India on Thursday asked the international community to "isolate and expose" those countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism, saying that if left unchecked, terrorism can become a major threat to regional and global peace, in a veiled jibe at China and Pakistan. Delivering Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit in the Kazakhstan capital Astana, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who was physically present at the meeting, recalled that one of the original goals of the SCO is to combat terrorism. "Many of us have had our experiences, often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace. Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or condoned," he told the summit, which was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and and Russian ...

International toy fair to begin on July 6 with over 100 foreign buyers

More than 300 domestic companies and over 100 foreign buyers from the US, Germany and other countries are expected to participate in the four-day international toy fair beginning on July 6 in the national capital, a statement said on Tuesday. More than 250 Indian brands will display their products during the fair, which is being organised at Pragati Maidan here, Toy Association of India senior vice-president Naresh Kumar Gautam said in the statement. Gautam said that the 15th Toy Biz International B2B Expo 2024 is the largest fair in South Asia. "It is a big platform for Indian toy makers to showcase their products and capabilities to the global audience. It helps us attract new customers and partners, expand market reach for our toys and boost exports," he said. In addition, he said, Toy Biz also provides a platform for industry players to network and connect with each other, which can help foster collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures. Gautam, who is also the CEO of ...

US deepening relationship with India in several key areas: Official

The US is deepening its relationship with India in several key areas, including economic and security cooperation, a senior official has said, emphasising that Washington will continue to cultivate this relationship. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel made the remarks on Monday at his daily news conference in response to a question on US-India relations and the recent conversation between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the recent G7 Summit in Italy. "India is a country in which we are deepening our relations within a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperation," Patel told reporters. President Biden "had the opportunity to briefly see Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi in the margins of the G7 a couple of weeks ago," he added. So this is an area where we will continue to cultivate this relationship," he said. Noting that the US hosted Prime Minister Modi for a

A new agenda for great power status

India needs to recalibrate its economic approach, focusing on trade, manufacturing, and the informal economy

G7 nations pledge support to specific infra projects like IMEC Corridor

Key projects include coordinating and financing efforts for corridors like the Lobito, Luzon, Middle, and India-Middle East-Europe

PM Modi, French President discuss ways to further strengthen partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met French President Emmanuel Macron and believed to have discussed ways to further bolster the bilateral ties and exchanged views on global issues. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 summit here in the southern resort town of Italy. It is Prime Minister Modi's first foreign trip after assuming office for a third time this month. The two leaders last met in January when the French President visited India to attend the 75th Republic Day of India. During their last meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared vision for bilateral cooperation and international partnership, outlined in Horizon 2047 and other documents from the July 2023 Summit. Horizon 2047 Roadmap sets an ambitious and broad-ranging course for the bilateral relationship for 2047, the centenary year of India's independence.

Success of India's foreign policy manifestation of domestic policy: EAM

The EAM was speaking at an event 'Bharat's Rise in Global Diplomacy' in Benares Club in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday

Govt's own security interests involved in Pannun probe: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday asserted that India's national security interests are involved in its investigation into the alleged involvement of a government official in the assassination plot aimed at Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. "It is something we are investigating as we believe our own national security interests are involved in that investigation," he told reporters, replying to a question about US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti's statement that the involvement of a government official in an assassination bid on the citizen of another country is an "unacceptable red line". Jaishankar said the US ambassador will say what he feels is the thinking or position of his government. "The position of my government is that in this particular case, there has been certain information provided to us which we are investigating," he said, adding that India's own security interest is involved in this. "So, as and when we have something to say on the ...

India supports Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty: EAM

India firmly supports the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, amid the Southeast Asian nation's maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea. Addressing a news conference here, Jaishankar said he held a very good discussion with his counterpart Enrique Manalo in Manila. "I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India's support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty," Jaishankar said. As the world changes, it is essential that India and the Philippines cooperate more closely to shape the emerging model, he said. Every country has the right to uphold and enforce its national sovereignty, he said in response to a question. "That is something that we have also discussed," he added. There has been very perceptible growth in bilateral ties between India and the Philippines recently, the minister said.

EAM's Singapore visit boosted efforts to deepen strategic partnership: MEA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Singapore and his meetings with the country's top leadership presented an opportunity to take stock of the progress in several areas of cooperation and further deepen the bilateral Strategic Partnership, an official statement said. Jaishankar was in Singapore from March 23 to 25 during which he called on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. They exchanged views on deepening engagement in the identified pillars of bilateral cooperation, including fintech, digitalisation, green economy, skills development and food security, India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Monday. Jaishankar also held discussions with his counterpart Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. He had several bilateral engagements with the leadership and senior ministers of the Cabinet and discussed ways to further the strateg

Need to get out of cult worship that Nehru era was great: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday took a critical view of some of the key decisions made by the Jawaharlal Nehru government, and said one needs to get out of this "cult worship" that the period from 1946 onwards was "great years" and the country did "splendidly". In the early years, it was very much "a Nehruvian ideological bubble" when it came to foreign policy and "vestiges of that continue, even today," he said in response to a question during a session at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit here. A career diplomat-turned-politician, Jaishankar spoke on a range of issues such as India's role during G20 presidency, the criticism surrounding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, abrogation of Article 370, and India-China and India-Pakistan relations in the current context and the geopolitical scenario. Asked about the legacy of the foreign policy of the government in the early years after independence, Jaishankar said, "You got Pakistan wrong, you got China wrong, you got

India will have political stability for next decade or even two: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday exuded confidence that India will have a stable government for 15 years, even longer, as he highlighted how long-term political stability helps a government make "bold" decisions. Jaishankar, speaking at the Nikkei Forum on India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership here, said a reformist and visionary leadership backed by a strong political mandate, which in a democracy means having a majority in Parliament, results in "bold decision making". The minister's comments were in response to a question about political stability in India and whether the upcoming elections will affect India's foreign policy. India in May this year heads for crucial general elections with more than 950 million citizens gearing up to exercise their right to choose the government. "Hundred per cent we will have 15 years of stable government. It could even be that of 20 years or longer," Jaishankar said in response to the question. "Every country, every society

Govt continuously working to encourage research, innovation: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted people on National Science Day and said his government is continuously working to encourage research and innovation among the youth. The day is observed to commemorate the discovery of the 'Raman effect' by scientist C V Raman, who won the Nobel prize in physics for the groundbreaking finding. Modi said on X, "Greetings on National Science Day. Our Government is continuously working to encourage research and innovation among the youth. This is important to realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat.

US dy secy of State meets Indian officials, discusses strategic partnership

The US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma has met with senior Indian ministers and officials in New Delhi to advance the US-India global strategic partnership and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, according to his spokesperson. Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, is the highest-ranking Indian American in the State Department. The former US Ambassador to India was on an official visit to India from February 19 to 21. He met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, and Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri in New Delhi, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said here on Thursday. Verma's meetings explored opportunities to strengthen US-India cooperation and people-to-people ties to ensure a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Miller said. He also met with Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to discuss further expanding t

Sri Lankan minister calls India 'big brother', thanks PM Modi for aid

Highlighting the development of Sri Lanka, he said, "Tourism is flourishing in Sri Lanka. We are looking at the renewables and the ports and the real estate in Sri Lanka is developing"

PM Modi's two-day bilateral visit to UAE, Qatar: 5 things on agenda

PM Modi's UAE trip: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold key bilateral talks in UAE, Qatar and also inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday

Parliament condoles Namibian President Hage Geingob's demise: Jaishankar

Geingob passed away at the age of 82, a month after it was announced he would undergo cancer treatment, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday

Upto India to 'forcefully define' Quad partnership, says US envoy Garcetti

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said India is in the driving seat of the Quad, while America is in the seat next to it with the corrective steering wheel, and added that it is up to India to "forcefully define" the nature of the diplomatic partnership. Garcetti, speaking here at the 17th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), used a rather unique analogy of 'eating, drinking and sharing a ride together' to explain the different roles of member countries in the Quad. The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between India, the US, Australia, and Japan to deepen economic, diplomatic, and military ties among the four countries. "India is very much in the driver seat of the Quad... may be America is in the next seat with the corrective steering wheel, I think Japan has been an avid navigator from the beginning and Australia is really excited to be back in the car and asking if everybody has enough to drink and eat, and where we are going. "So it is a great time and we love these

EAM speaks to Israeli counterpart Katz, discusses regional security issues

Israel on Monday expressed its gratitude towards India for its friendship and support and discussed regional security threats, including the security of shipping and regional projects which connect India with the Middle East. Had a good conversation today with Indian foreign minister @DrSJaishankar in which I expressed my gratitude for his friendship and support of Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. We discussed regional security threats including security of shipping and regional projects which connect India with the Middle East," Katz said in the post. Freedom of navigation in international waters has been a major concern in the region with Iran-backed Houthis disrupting shipping lines, causing major economic concerns raising prices of essential items and also threatening regional peace. The continued attacks will also adversely impact the plans for an India- Middle East- Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) projec

PM Modi congratulates Comoros President Azali Assoumani on re-election

PM Modi affirmed hope that the two countries will continue to work to strengthen the India-Comoros partnership, the India-Africa partnership and the 'Vision Sagar'