The Munich Security Conference 2024 began on February 16 in the German capital and is set to conclude on Sunday
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted India’s strategy of maintaining relationships with both the United States and Russia amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges. When questioned about India’s foreign policy, particularly in light of perceptions of a shift from non-alignment to multi-alignment, Jaishankar responded by emphasising the benefits of having multiple options. He stated, “Is that a problem, why should that be a problem? If I am smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me.” He further explained the complexities of international relations, stating, “We try to explain what are the different pulls and pressures that countries have. It’s very hard to have that unidimensional relationship.”
Addressing concerns about India’s perceived transactional approach to foreign policy, Jaishankar clarified, “I do not want you, even inadvertently, to give the impression that we are purely and unsentimentally transactional, We are not.” He emphasised the importance of understanding the diverse perspectives and experiences of countries in shaping diplomatic decisions.
He also mentioned about Israel-Hamas War by saying “It is important that Israel should be, should have been, very mindful of civilian casualties,” Mr. Jaishankar said, adding that Israel has an obligation to observe international humanitarian law. He called for the return of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and for the opening of a “sustainable humanitarian corridor” to provide relief in Gaza, where, as per the region’s Health Ministry, at least 28,000 civilians — many of them children — have been killed in Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 assault. At least 2.2 million people have been displaced since mid-December.
The Munich Security Conference 2024 began on February 16 in the German capital and is set to conclude on Sunday. Discussions are being held at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. Earlier in the conference, Jaishankar engaged in discussions with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Peru Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea. The talks focused on bilateral cooperation between India and the UK, as well as global and regional issues.