External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday addressed remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, particularly focusing on Trump’s recent warning to BRICS nations about imposing a 100 per cent tariff if they pursued a BRICS currency.
According to news agency PTI, Jaishankar noted that he was unsure about the exact trigger for Trump’s statement but reiterated India’s consistent stance against de-dollarisation. He clarified that no proposal for a BRICS currency currently exists and highlighted that BRICS nations hold differing views on the matter.
Reacting to the Russia-Ukraine war, he called for “more innovative and participative diplomacy” and added that the needle is heading towards the reality of negotiations rather than the continuation of the war.
Jaishankar discussed the rising costs of oil, fertilisers, and shipping, which have affected countries like India due to ongoing conflicts in the Gulf and Mediterranean regions.
EAM S Jaishankar Acknowledges Complexities Of Global Diplomacy
Speaking at the Doha Forum, hosted by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Jaishankar joined a panel that included Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. He acknowledged the complexities of global diplomacy, emphasising that despite the challenges and conflicts, it is essential for diplomats to step forward and address them.
Jaishankar remarked that the era when the UN Security Council or Western powers could manage conflicts effectively has passed, urging for more dynamic, innovative, and inclusive diplomacy. He encouraged nations to demonstrate boldness, suggesting that some may need to bypass traditional Western approaches.
When asked about India’s role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said, “The needle is moving more towards the reality of negotiation than the continuation of the war.” He underlined the role of India in facilitating dialogue by engaging directly with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In addition, he also stressed the commitment of India to representing the concerns of the Global South. which includes 125 nations affected by the war, grappling with higher fuel prices, food inflation, and fertiliser costs. “And, in the last few weeks and months, I’ve even seen this sentiment expressed by major European leaders, who are actually telling us, please keep engaging Russia and engaging Ukraine. So we do think that things are moving somewhere in that direction,” he added.
Reacting over the question of whether India has a role to play in Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran forming an anti-American, anti-westernism axis, Jaishankar remarked, “Every country has its interests. They agree on some, and they disagree on some. Sometimes the same countries work in different combinations in different issues.”
“The reality is much more complicated, much more granular,” he further added at the panel discussions as part of the 22nd edition of the Doha Forum with the theme ‘The Innovation Imperative.’
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