Indian Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, has stated that India is committed to ensuring that all its engagements with significant global powers advance without seeking exclusivity. Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic during his visit from April 27 to 29, Jaishankar outlined India’s approach to foreign policy, citing the concentric circles of priority that guide Indian diplomacy, including the Indo-Pacific vision, connecting to Central Asia, and the Neighborhood First Policy.
However, Jaishankar noted that China falls into a different category due to the boundary dispute and the “currently abnormal nature” of ties. He emphasized that the rise of China and India in parallel is not without competition and that the current situation at the Line of Actual Control is a violation of border management agreements by China.
Jaishankar also highlighted India’s commitment to cooperation with smaller neighbors, including generous non-reciprocal support, while maintaining that Pakistan is an exception due to its support for cross-border terrorism. He also discussed India’s expansion of ties through the Act East Policy, the Quad mechanism, and the I2U2 grouping comprising India, Israel, UAE, and the USA, as well as India’s relationship with the Gulf and the Middle East.
Finally, Jaishankar explained India’s outlook towards the oceans, which he referred to as SAGAR, stating that it shapes India’s thinking towards the south. Overall, Jaishankar’s address at the MIREX highlighted India’s multi-alignment approach to foreign policy, which reflects the reality of multi-polarity.
