New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Sunday criticised European nations for still “preaching” to its external partners and not coming to grips with the tumult in the global order, pointing out that today India looks “for partners”, not “preachers”.
“Well, look, when we look out at the world, we look for partners. We don’t look for preachers. Particularly preachers who don’t practice at home what the preacher brought. And I think some of Europe is still struggling with that problem. Some of it is changing,” said Jaishankar, speaking at the Arctic Circle India Forum co-hosted by the Arctic Circle and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in Delhi.
The Indian External Affairs Minister added: “So, the issue for us, I mean, in many ways, Europe, I think, has entered a certain zone of reality check. Now, whether they are able to step up to it or not, it’s something we will have to see. But, from our point of view, if we are to develop a partnership, there has to be some understanding, there has to be some sensitivity, there has to be a mutuality of interest, and there has to be a realisation of how the world works.”
The interaction at the India Forum was moderated by Samir Saran, the President of ORF and Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of the Arctic Circle and a former president of Iceland.
Jaishankar’s comments on European “hypocrisy” come a couple of days after he spoke with his European Union (EU) counterpart Kaja Kallas about the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Kallas in her statement on the call urged India and Pakistan to “show restraint and pursue dialogue to ease the situation”.
Rising tensions between India and Pakistan are alarming. I urge both sides to show restraint and pursue dialogue to ease the situation. Escalation helps no one. I spoke to both @DrSJaishankar and @MIshaqDar50 today to convey these messages.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) May 2, 2025
The Indian minister was clear that “Europe has to get beyond preaching and start acting based on a framework of mutuality”. Ties between India and the EU have been growing in recent years, with the European Union’s College of Commissioners, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, travelling to India for the first visit of their new term in February 2024.
A few years ago, Europe enjoyed American security, Russian energy and the Chinese markets, Jaishankar pointed out. However, this strategic autonomy of the EU was upended in February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale military operation against Ukraine, changing the European security order.
Furthermore, with China being labelled a “systemic rival” by the EU, and the US’ intention under the administration of President Donald Trump of withdrawing from Europe, Brussels is facing a changed global scenario.
The EU capitals have all mostly stood behind Kyiv. The war has continued for over three years, with the Trump administration working to broker a ceasefire deal between Kyiv and Moscow in recent weeks—the first time the Western powers have opened direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to find at least a pause to the war. Jaishankar called out the lack of engagement to find peace with Russia during his interaction Sunday.
“We have always felt that the wars, [and] international relations, are conducted on the basis of some fundamental realism, and that realism requires an engagement with Russia. And the idea that a solution would come about, because if you remember, there was a period when countries were gathering and everybody was there, except Russia,” he said. “So the idea that you will get a solution out of Russia without inviting Russia challenged the basics of realism. So we have always felt that there is a need to engage Russia.”
This mirrors New Delhi’s position last year, during the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, organised by Switzerland in June 2024. While India had a delegation present, it did not sign on to the joint communiqué due to the lack of Russian engagement in the summit.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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