Jaishankar, 69, officially took office on Tuesday as India’s Foreign Minister. He joins a cadre of senior BJP leaders — Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and Nirmala Sitharaman — who have retained their positions from the previous administration.
Addressing the strategic challenges posed by Pakistan and China, Jaishankar acknowledged the distinct nature of these relationships. “In any country and especially in a democracy, it is a very big deal for a government to get elected three times in a row. So, the world will definitely feel that today there is a lot of political stability in India,” NDTV quoted him as saying.
My remarks to the media this morning. pic.twitter.com/Yn1jah6RfU
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) June 11, 2024
“As far as Pakistan and China are concerned, the relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism.”
Jaishankar assumed his duties following an elaborate swearing-in ceremony in Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in alongside 71 ministers of the new coalition government.
When questioned about the Maldivian parliamentary investigation into previous agreements with India, Jaishankar responded with measured diplomacy: “I had a meeting with President Muizzu and even PM Modi met him. I even had the honour to call on him. So, I will prefer to be guided by my experience and conversation.”
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Relations between India and the Maldives have been strained since President Muizzu, who is known for his pro-China stance, took office. Shortly after his inauguration, Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. The military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month.
Discussing India’s ambitions for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over the next five years, Jaishankar expressed confidence in India’s growing global influence under the Modi government’s foreign policy.
“It has different aspects and I am fully confident that under PM Modi’s leadership, the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 will be very successful. For us, the influence of India has been steadily growing, not just in terms of our own perception but also what the other countries think. They feel that India is truly their friend and they have seen that in times of crisis, if there is one country that stands with the Global South, it is India. They have seen that when we put forward the African Union membership during the presidency of G20, the world trusted us and our responsibilities are also increasing, so we also believe that under the leadership of PM Modi, India’s identity in the world will definitely increase,” he affirmed.
Jaishankar brings a wealth of experience to his role, having served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018 during the first Modi government. His diplomatic career includes ambassadorships to the United States (2013-2015), China (2009-2013), and the Czech Republic (2000-2004), as well as the position of High Commissioner to Singapore (2007-2009). Jaishankar has also held various assignments in embassies in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, and Tokyo, along with roles in the Ministry of External Affairs and the President’s Secretariat.
