‘India Looking For Partners, Not Preachers’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Dig At Europe

Last Updated: May 04, 2025, 14:32 IST

Speaking at the Arctic Circle India Forum 2025, Jaishankar said, “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 problem."

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday took a dig at some European countries, saying India was looking for partners and not preachers who do not practice the same principles at home. He also said that Europe was getting a reality check as it was finally seeing the realities of multipolarity today.

“Europe has entered a certain zone of reality check. Whether they are able to step up or not is something we will have to see," Jaishankar further said. “If we have to develop a partnership, there has to be some understanding, sensitivity, mutuality of interest and a realisation of how the world works."

Jaishankar also highlighted India’s role in global politics, saying any consequential event in any corner of the world matters to the country. This has increased pressure on Europe to change. “The realities of multipolarity are dawning on it. I think it has still not adjusted and absorbed it fully. The US has dramatically changed positions. The Chinese are doing what they were doing," he added.

The External Affairs Minister also spoke about India’s engagement in polar regions, noting that the country has been active in the Antarctic for over four decades and has recently strengthened its Arctic involvement through a dedicated policy and international collaborations.

“We had an even earlier involvement with the Antarctic, which is now more than 40 years. We have come up a few years ago with an Arctic policy. We have agreements with KSAT on Svalbard, which is relevant to our space," he said, adding that sharpening geopolitical divides had only heightened the global relevance of the Arctic.