2 months ago
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On the 2nd time of his Brussels visit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and had discussions, including astir the concern successful West Asia and Ukraine. Mr. Jaishankar was invited to interact with Foreign Ministers from the 27-member bloc, during the EU Foreign Affairs Council gathering connected Monday (March 16, 2026), arsenic per a connection from the Ministry of External Affairs.
“We besides discussed developments successful the Middle East and successful Ukraine. De-escalation, stableness and vigor information are our shared objectives,” Ms. Von der Leyen said successful a station connected X, astir her gathering with Mr. Jaishankar. The EU and India were focused connected implementing the commercialized woody singed successful January successful New Delhi, “as soon arsenic possible”, she said.
Thanking the EU’s apical diplomat Kaja Kallas for inviting him to the Foreign Affairs Council, Mr. Jaishankar said, “Our speech contiguous truthful covered trade, investment, technology, mobility and defence successful particular.”
“The stronger convergence betwixt India and the EU successful a multipolar satellite is besides expressed successful person consultations,” helium added, saying West Asia, Ukraine and the Indo Pacific were discussed astatine the meeting. On Sunday (March 15, 2026), Mr. Jaishankar publically thanked Armenia for the harmless evacuation of 550 Indian nationals from Iran.
Ahead of the meeting, Ms. Kallas had outlined assorted options the EU was considering to open the Strait of Hormuz, a important assemblage of h2o done which a 4th of the world’s lipid passes. The Strait has efficaciously remained sealed disconnected by Iran since Israel and the U.S. launched strikes against the state connected February 28.
Different relationship
Mr. Jaishankar had said that India would beryllium blessed to stock what New Delhi was doing with Teheran, with European countries, though helium acknowledged that each state had a antithetic narration with Iran. He had besides said determination was nary quid pro quo progressive with Iran permitting the transition of 2 Indian-flagged tankers carrying LPG crossing the Strait connected Saturday, saying this was based connected a “history of dealing” with each other. Calling the struggle “most unfortunate”, Mr. Jaishankar called for different countries to prosecute with Teheran. The Minister had besides emphasised that India did not person a “blanket arrangement” with Teheran for harmless transition of ships, but it was being arranged connected a case-by-case ground and discussions were ongoing.
Mr. Jaishankar met with Cyprus’s Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on Sunday and discussed ways to fortify India’s strategical concern with the country. They besides exchanged views connected West Asia; Cyprus presently holds the six-month rotating Presidency of the EU Council, a assemblage made up of the 27 member-states of the bloc.
Earlier, Mr. Jaishankar met with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot. They agreed to found India-Belgium strategical dialogue, according to the Minister.
