MEA S Jaishankar Says India's Consultation Is Now Important In Every Global Issue

Praising the Narendra Modi government's foreign relations strategies, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the global perspective on India has changed over the last decade and no big decision is taken in the world without consulting India. During a presser at Nagpur, MEA Jaishankar said, "No major issue in the world is decided without some consultation with India. We have changed and the world's view of us has changed."

In reply to a question about India's participation with different groupings like QUAD (a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) and BRICS (group of emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), Jaishankar said, "Because we are independent, we need to learn how to manage our interests by dealing with different people."

Jaishankar also expressed his views about relations between India and China, underlining that relations between both neighboring countries can not be normalised until the border issue is resolved.

"I have explained to my Chinese counterpart that unless you find a solution to the border dispute and till forces remain face-to-face there, you can't expect the rest of the relations will carry on in a normal manner. It is impossible," MEA said.

Earlier, on January 6, during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Kerala, Jaishankar said that the global conversation has shifted towards India under the Narendra Modi government.

"Because, as foreign minister, I go around the world. The rest of the world is actually today talking about us. They are asking today how it is that you are able to do," Jaishankar told PTI.

"Because it was the same India 10, 20 or 30 years ago. What has changed in India? And I tell them that what has changed in India is the vision," MEA added.