External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India’s perception on the global stage has evolved due to the country’s newfound ability to “seek its own solutions” and stand firm on matters of national interest.
“This is a different India today,” Jaishankar said at a media event on Friday, articulating a vision of a nation ready to defend its consumer interests, energy policies, and territorial integrity.
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“Today, when the world thinks of India, the world actually sees a country which is able to seek its own solutions, speak its own mind, which stood up for our consumer interests when it came to its energy choices, which stood up for its national security when it came to deploying on our northern frontiers and in staying with the Quad,” he stated.
The Foreign Minister also pointed to India’s significant contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative, which saw India providing vaccines and life-saving drugs to 100 countries while grappling with its own public health crisis.
This effort, according to Jaishankar, has contributed to a deeper global recognition of India’s capabilities and humanitarian outreach.
On the economic front, the top diplomat highlighted India’s robust growth despite global challenges, noting the country’s ascent to the fifth-largest economy, up from eleventh a decade ago, with aspirations to become the third-largest soon.
“Despite the tremendous global headwinds, this is an economy that is growing at 8 per cent,” he stated.
Acknowledging ongoing global issues like the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as maritime concerns in the Red Sea, Jaishankar stressed that the world remains fraught with challenges. However, he remained optimistic about the opportunities available.
“We are used to thinking of a global marketplace. There is a global workplace which is happening. There is a global tech place which is taking place,” Jaishankar said while underscoring the potential for India to capitalize on manufacturing and technological advancements missed in the past.
“But to do all that, we need leadership, we need vision, we need a collective commitment of a nation. And if we get all those right, I’m very sure that those who come after me will be able to represent the nation abroad with even more effectiveness and an even greater sense of pride than I’ve had,” he signed off.
