EU, Indo-Pacific needs regular, comprehensive and candid dialogue: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that the European Union, the Indo-Pacific, and India, in particular, require “regular, comprehensive, and candid” talks that are not limited to the current crisis. He stated that the changes taking place in India merit the EU’s attention.

Addressing the EU-Indo Pacific Ministerial meeting in Stockholm, Jaishankar said, “From an Indian perspective, let me also flag the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative that we proposed in 2019. The EU will be comfortable with its objectives and may consider partnering in one of its pillars. Keeping all this in mind, Indo-Pacific and India specifically, and the European Union, need a regular, comprehensive, and candid dialogue, not just limited to the crisis of the day.”

“Few Indian governments have invested as much energy and effort in engaging the European Union and its member states as the current one. I myself am headed here after to Brussels for the first meeting of our Trade and Technology Council,” he added.

In his address, Jaishankar emphasised that the forum’s theme reflects how rapidly modern changes are gaining traction. He urged leaders to consider six issues, including globalisation, the Indo-Pacific, and market share leveraging.

“Let me make today six points for your consideration. One, globalization is the overwhelming reality of our times. However, far apart. Regions and nations cannot be impervious to significant events elsewhere, nor can we cherry-pick them to our convenience. The European Union has major stakes in Indo-Pacific developments, especially as they pertain to technology, connectivity, trade and finance. It has to in respect for an observance of…,” he added.

Agnosticism on such matters, according to EAM Jaishankar, is no longer an option. He stated that the outcomes of the last two decades have put established thinking to the test.

“Two, established thinking, whether on politics, economics or governance, is being tested by the outcomes of the last two decades. How to respond to non-market economics is proving to be a more formidable challenge than most of us expected. The compulsions of the immediate are often in contradiction with the concerns of the medium term. Therefore, conventional templates must give way to new thinking better suited to emerging realities,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar also stated that the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly important in shaping global politics. He stated that recent events have highlighted the issues with economic concentration. He believes that the EU and the world would benefit from additional drivers of production and growth.

He said, “Third, Indo-Pacific itself is increasingly central to the direction of global politics. Among the issues that it throws up are the problems inherent in the established model of globalization. Recent events have highlighted the problems with economic concentration as also the need for diversification. De-risking the global economy now involves both more reliable and resilient supply chains, as well as promoting trust and transparency in the digital domain. EU, and indeed the world is better off with additional drivers of production and growth.”

Jaishankar had arrived in Sweden earlier in the day for a three-day visit to attend the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial. In Sweden, Jaishankar met with his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom and his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi. At the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial, he met with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, and Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan.

He tweeted, “Good to meet host FM of Sweden @TobiasBillstrom. And of course, Quad partner Yoshimasa Hayashi, Foreign Minister of Japan.” In another tweet, he stated, “Good to catch up with my Indonesian counterpart and G20 troika partner, Retno Marsudi.”

Sharing details of meeting Singaporean Foreign Minister, Jaishankar, in a tweet, wrote, “Nice to see FM of Singapore @VivianBala at the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial.”He tweeted, “Foreign Ministers representing G20, EU, ASEAN, AU and G7 gather in Stockholm today.”