India look for partners, we don’t look for preachers: EAM Jaishankar in veiled message to Europe

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday underscored India’s desire for equal and respectful partnerships on the global stage, subtly criticising Europe for what he described as a tendency to preach rather than engage on the basis of mutual interests.

Speaking at the ‘Arctic Circle India Forum’, Jaishankar emphasized that for ties with Europe to deepen, there must be sensitivity and shared interests. “We look for partners, not preachers especially those who fail to practice at home what they preach abroad,” he remarked. While acknowledging that parts of Europe have begun to reassess their stance, he added that progress varied across the continent.

In a broader discussion on shifting geopolitical dynamics, Jaishankar highlighted India’s longstanding position of “Russia realism”, citing a complementary relationship between India and Russia—characterized by one being a resource provider and the other a consumer. He stated that New Delhi’s pragmatic engagement with Moscow has remained consistent, even during heightened tensions in 2022 and 2023.

Criticizing Western efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict without Moscow’s involvement, Jaishankar said such actions “challenged the basics of realism.” He also stressed the importance of approaching the United States through a lens of shared interests rather than ideological divides, describing himself as an advocate of both “Russia realism” and “America realism.”

Jaishankar’s comments come amid a rapidly evolving global order, with India positioning itself as a sovereign and strategic player committed to partnerships based on respect and reciprocity.