S Jaishankar says ‘No major global issue decided without India’s consultation’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that the world’s view of India has changed over the years and no major global issue is decided without New Delhi’s consultation.

While addressing an event in Nagpur, 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.”

“Because we are independent, we need to learn how to manage our interests by dealing with different people,” the EAM said after he was asked about India being a part of 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 also spoke about diplomatic relations between India and China, saying that they couldn’t 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.”

He added that the two countries were working on normalising relations and that sometimes, diplomatic stand-offs take time to get resolved.

Notably, on January 6, during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Kerala, Jaishankar said that the global conversation has shifted towards India, with many talking about the changes that have taken place in the country over the past decade.

“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,” he said, as per news agency 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,” he added.

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