S Jaishankar: Today was S. Jaishankar‘s formal start date as India’s foreign minister. Along with Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar was one of several prominent BJP officials who kept their respective ministries from the previous government.
Political Stability in India
Speaking about India’s five-year relationship with China and Pakistan, S Jaishankar stated that each nation has a unique set of difficulties. Jaishankar said, “In any country and especially in a democracy, it is a very big deal for a government to get elected three times in a row. So the world will definitely feel that today there is a lot of political stability in India.”
Jaishankar added, “As far as Pakistan and China are concerned, the relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism.”
Lavish Swearing-In Ceremony Marks New Coalition Government
Following a lavish swearing-in event in which 71 ministers of the new coalition government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the oath of office, S Jaishankar took office in Delhi. When asked about the Maldives parliamentary investigation into earlier deals with India, Jaishankar gave a tactful response that demonstrated his well-honed style. He said, “I had a meeting with President Muizzu and even PM Modi met him. I even had the honour to call on him. So I will prefer to be guided by my experience and conversation.”
Since President Muizzu, who is well-known for taking a pro-China position, assumed office, relations between India and the Maldives have been severely strained. Soon after taking the oath, he had called for the departure of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. Earlier this month, civilians took the place of the Indian military troops.
India’s Aspiration for a Permanent UNSC Seat
Speaking on India’s aspirations to hold a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) within the next five years, S Jaishankar stated that the country will achieve better success due to its status as a “friend” and the foreign policy implemented by the Modi government. “It has different aspects and I am fully confident that under PM Modi’s leadership, the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 will be very successful. For us, the influence of India has been steadily growing, not just in terms of our own perception but also what the other countries think,” S Jaishankar said.
“They feel that India is truly their friend and they have seen that in times of crisis, if there is one country that stands with the Global South, it is India. They have seen that when we put forward the African Union membership during the presidency of G20, the world trusted us and our responsibilities are also increasing, so we also believe that under the leadership of PM Modi, India’s identity in the world will definitely increase,” Jaishankar added.
Extensive Diplomatic Experience Under Modi Administration
Under the first Modi administration, S. Jaishankar held ambassadorial positions in the Czech Republic (2000-2004), China (2009-2013), and the United States (2013-15). He also served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018. In addition, he served as India’s High Commissioner to Singapore from 2007 to 2009 and held positions in the Ministry of External Affairs, the President’s Secretariat, and embassies in Tokyo, Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, and Tokyo.