External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday criticised what he called different standards being applied to India’s eastern and western neighbours while pointing out the ”inconsistent application” of principles in global politics, particularly regarding democracy and military rule.
Delivering the keynote address at the IIC-Bruegel Annual Seminar at the India International Centre (IIC) here, he emphasised that the agenda can no longer be set by some only to be observed by the rest.
“Even on a question like democracy and military rule. Different standards have been applied to our neighbours in the East and our neighbours in the West. It is not my case that principles are dispensable or that we must be utterly into real politics but the agenda can no longer be set by some, only to be observed by the rest,” Mr Jaishankar said.
Further, he pointed to the ongoing wars in West Asia and Europe, saying the two conflicts are often presented as matters of principle, but with selective and uneven application.
“The world is currently witnessing two major conflicts. These are often presented as matters of principle. We are told that the very future of the world order is at stake. Yet the record shows how selectively and unevenly these principles have been applied,” he stated.
He highlighted India’s experience, citing the ongoing occupation of its territory and the overlooking of terrorism when convenient.
“We in India have yet to see aggression on our territory vacated after so many decades. Equally, terrorism has been overlooked when convenient. In our own continent, international law has been disregarded with significant consequences,” he said.
The foreign minister also emphasised on the importance of India-European relations and stated, “In a world that promises to be so volatile and so uncertain, a stronger India-EU relationship can be an important stabilizing factor.”
India is certainly cognizant of the greater strategic awakening of Europe in the last few years. That too can serve as a driver of deeper engagement. We already see that happening, for example, in closer defence in security and technology cooperation. The bottom line is that the India-EU relationship is more important than ever before,” the foreign minister said.
Emphasising the importance of the ties between India and the European Union as a “stabilising factor” amid the global volatility and uncertainty, he asserted that the relationship between the two is “more important than ever before”.
The foreign minister highlighted the interaction with the European Commission, expressing expectations for even collaboration in the future.
“In a world that promises to be so volatile and so uncertain, a stronger India-EU relationship can be an important stabilizing factor. India is certainly cognizant of the greater strategic awakening of Europe in the last few years. That too can serve as a driver of deeper engagement. We already see that happening, for example, in closer defence in security and technology cooperation. The bottom line is that the India-EU relationship is more important than ever before,” he said.
He added, “In recent years there has been a more intensive engagement with the European Commission. We expect that to be even more in the coming days.”