Col. Manoj Pal
Vienna (Austria), January 04, 2023: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s interview doing the round on Indian social media platforms and being shared with proud having different captions. We have seen his candidness during interviews in the past especially while away in Europe on matter concerning India’s stand on oil import from Russia besides military and strategic support from Moscow. Though he repeated the word diplomat more often but he was blunt on issues on Russia-Ukraine conflict and India’s indirect support to Russia.
The Minister advised the Europe on and about new world order, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, challenges from China and Pakistan and politely but firmly indicated that the world especially America and Europe had to rise above their own interests and driving the other developing and under developed countries accordingly. He spoke on many issues which the world listen carefully as the India of today means business.
In an interview with the Austrian publication, the EAM Jaishankar said “Europeans needed a wake-p call to understand that the difficult aspects of life are not always taken care of by other, adding, no region will be stable if dominated by a single power”. He further added “Above all, Europe wanted to develop within its own space and to keep international problems as far away as possible. Europe focused on trade, emphasized multilateralism and used its economic influence to shape the world on its own terms on issued such as climate change and human rights. Europe tended not to want to be involved in tough security issues”.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said that world order is still western and it needs to be replaced by the world of “multi-alignment” where countries will choose their own “particular policies and preferences and interest”. He cited the example and stated that New Delhi rejected American and European pressure at the United Nations to condemn the Russian invasion, turned Moscow into its larges oil supplier and dismissed the perceived hypocrisy of the West since Russia-Ukraine war which began on 24 Feb 2022. New Delhi has always and still prefer diplomacy and dialogues over the conflict.
“I would still like to see a more rules-based world. But when people start pressing you in the name of a rules-based order to give up, to compromise on what are very deep interests, at that stage I’m afraid it’s important to contest that and, if necessary, to call it out”, said Jaishankar. This was with reference to America’s and Europe’s sanctions over Russia but India’s refrain and import of oil.
The minister also spoke on varied issues like fighting terrorists sponsored by Pakistan, China’s dishonoring the agreements with respect of sanctity of LAC and LOC, India’s becoming world largest population in the year 2023 and its importance; permanent membership of UN Security Council and the timelines. He spoke on each issue candidly without mincing the words. He time and again emphasized that Pakistan sponsored terrorism in India and terrorism in other parts of the world is a serious problem but neither America nor European countries take serious notes and take steps to eradicate. They consider the problem specific the India but when it comes to problems in Europe, the expectation is to treat it as world’s problem. The diplomatically but very truthfully has put the facts so nicely that the interviewer and the audience on the world stage got a clear message that for Modi Government, India’s interests are above all.
