India, EU, Indo-Pacific nations need 'candid, regular and extensive' talks: S Jaishankar

External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said the European Union, Indo-Pacific countries and India need to hold "regular, comprehensive and candid" talks not just limited to the crisis of the day. He noted that transformations underway in India merit the EU's attention and outlined six ideas for EU to expand engagement with the Indo-Pacific region.

Addressing the EU-Indo Pacific ministerial meeting in Stockholm on Saturday night, 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 EU, 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 EU and its member states as the current one...," he added.


Jaishankar stressed the forum's subject speaks of how much contemporary changes are gaining traction.

"Let me make today, six points for your consideration. One, globalisation 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 EU has major stakes in Indo-Pacific developments," he added.

"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. Therefore, conventional templates must give way to new thinking," Jaishankar said.

"Third, Indo-Pacific itself is increasingly central to the direction of global politics. 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."

On the fourth point for consideration, Jaishankar said the leveraging of market shares, production capacities and resources can no longer be overlooked.

"Fifth, in such an engagement with the Indo-Pacific, the EU will naturally seek like-minded partners. India is certainly among them. Transformations underway in India, like digital public delivery or green growth Initiative, certainly merit EU's attention."

"And sixth, any evaluation of the Indo-Pacific will naturally factor in the Quad as a platform for global good."