Jaishankar's Bold Message on Foreign Policy: India Won’t Bow to External Pressure

National News: India's Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Saturday made a tough and clear statement about his foreign policy during the Arctic Circle India Forum in New Delhi. During this, he said that India is looking for the partners, not the preachers. He made this statement during a conversation with former Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimson and Sameer Saran, President of Observer Research Foundation.

"Not the preachers require partnership"

Dr. Jaishankar said that when India looks at other countries of the world, there are no expectations from countries that preach abroad, but do not apply them in their home. The Foreign Minister also said that there is still a mentality of "double standards" in some parts of Europe, although some changes are also being seen in them. The statement came at a time when India firmly introduced its decisive stance on the global platform, especially on issues such as Russia-Ukraine War, cross-border terrorism, and energy crisis.

#WATCH | Delhi: At Arctic Circle India Forum 2025, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says "When we look at the world, we look for partners, we don't look for preachers. Particularly, preachers who don't practice at home what they preach abroad. Some of Europe is still struggling with that… pic.twitter.com/9V8vwBzvaf

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2025

Importance of global partnership

While sharing his views on the global partnership, Jaishankar said, "If we want to become a true partner, we have to understand each other's sensations and interests as well as understand how the whole world works." He also said that Europe is now investigating reality on these issues and now all parts of the world need to move forward in the direction of partnership.

Western criticism reply

This is not the first time Dr. Jaishankar has responded to Western criticism. When India imported oil from Russia in 2022, it was criticized by Western countries. At that time, Dr. Jaishankar had clearly stated that India's primary focus is on its energy security. He said, "Europe has the right to take decisions according to its energy needs, and it is not sustainable to expect anything else from India."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach

Dr. Jaishankar, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "The Prime Minister has always said that we should take a stance that India benefits. And we are doing the same." He made it clear that India would not bow to any external pressure, considering its national interests as paramount.