‘Indian minister had a point’: German Chancellor echoes Jaishankar’s ‘European mindset’ remark

Jaishankar had said that Europe has to grow out of the mindset that its problems are the world’s problems but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has quoted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's viral remark on the "European mindset" which has been included in Munich Security Report 2023.

Speaking at the 17th edition of the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum in Slovakia last year, Jaishankar had said that Europe has to grow out of the mindset that its problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems.

The strong comments by Jaishankar came amid persistent efforts by the European countries to convince India to take a tough position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the argument that New Delhi may face a similar challenge from China in the future.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Scholz echoed Jaishankar's views and said "Eupore has to get out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems, but the world's problems are not Europe's problems - this quote from the Indian Foreign Minister is included in this year's Munich Security Report and he has a point. It wouldn't be Europe's problem alone if the law of the strong were to assert itself in international relations."

"We have to generally address the interests and concerns of these countries as a basic prerequisite for joint action. And that's why it was so important to me to not merely have representatives of Asia, Africa and Latin America at the negotiating table during the G-7 Summit last June. I really wanted to work with these regions to find solutions to the main challenges they face growing poverty and hunger, partly as a consequence of Russia's war, as well as the impact of climate change or Covid-19," he said.

Jaishankar was asked why he thinks anyone will help New Delhi in case of a problem with China after it did not help others for Ukraine.

"Somewhere Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems. That if it is you, it's yours, if it is me it is ours. I see reflections of that," he said.

"There is a linkage today which is being made. A linkage between China and India and what's happening in Ukraine. China and India happened way before anything happened in Ukraine. The Chinese do not need a precedent somewhere else on how to engage us or not engage us or be difficult with us or not be difficult with us," he said.

Jaishankar said Europe was also silent on many developments in Asia.