Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressing an event in Mumbai, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Ahead of the 25th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (November 11, 2024) said bilateral trade in national currencies is of “great importance”.

Also read: Russia, India agreed to go ahead with trade in national currency: Russian diplomat

Speaking at the beginning of the India-Russia Business Forum in Mumbai, Mr. Jaishankar said bilateral trade between the two countries is presently at $66 billion and declared that the figure will touch $100 billion by 2030. The senior Indian minister reminded of the current world conditions in which the mutual trade between India and Russia has surged ahead and reiterated that the world is moving towards multipolarity.

“Mutual settlement of trade in national currencies is of great importance, especially in the current circumstances. Special Rupee Vostro Accounts are right now an effective mechanism. However even iin the short run, a better trade balance with national currency settlements is the answer,” said the Minister.

Also read: India deserves to be in list of global superpowers: Russia’s Putin

Mr. Jaishankar highlighted INSTC, Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor and Northern Maritime Route as the three connectivity initiatives that the two sides are working on.

He also pointed out that the signing of a bilateral deal between the customs authorities of India and Russia in May 2024 on Authorised Economic Operators has had a “big impact on smoothening the ease of doing business”.

The interaction between the high level teams from India and Russia is significant as they are meeting soon after nineteen Indian entities were placed under sanctions by the US Treasury Department for carrying on trade and exchanges with Russian entities. Mr. Jaishankar reiterated that the the two governments have provided “strong direction” to nurture Indo-Russia trade.

PM Modi was hosted in Moscow earlier this year for the annual India-Russia summit and thereafter he also visited Kazan for the BRICS summit hosted by Russa. Trade in bilateral currencies was a major theme at the BRICS summit in Kazan and the Kazan Declaration emphasized the need of conducting business in local currencies to safeguard national interests.

Apart from Mr. Jaishankar and his team, the meeting in Mumbai is being attended by First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov who will lead the Russian delegation during Tuesday’s Inter-Governmental Commission which is an umbrella forum for discussion of trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the two sides. India-Russia trade has grown manifold after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia when Moscow came under western sanctions prompting it to get closer to Asian powers like India and China. India has gone ahead with trade with Russia especially in energy and technology despite pressure from the U.S.

On November 12, at the initiative of the Business Council for Cooperation with India and the Synergy Corporation, New Delhi will host the opening of the Russian Business Centre in India. The Russian Business Centre is aimed at developing business ties between the two sides and “provide a platform for interaction between Russian and Indian business communities”, stated a press release issued by the Embassy of Russia. The event will be attended by Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov and Minister of the Moscow government and Head of the Department of External Economic and International Relations of the Moscow City Sergey Cherernin. 

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his counterparts from the G4 countries.
| Photo Credit: X/@DrSJaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has met his counterparts from the G4 countries, reaffirming the grouping’s commitment to urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council through text-based negotiations.

The G4 nations comprise Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan.

Mr. Jaishankar, who is in the U.S. on an official visit, on Monday (September 23, 2024) met his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa, the Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Glad to join the traditional #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting along with colleagues @ABaerbock, @Kamikawa_Yoko and Mauro Vieira in New York today. G4 reaffirmed its commitment for an urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council through Text Based Negotiations,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post on X.

The G4 nations support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.

India has been at the forefront of years-long efforts calling for reform of the Security Council, saying the 15-nation Council, founded in 1945, is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. A polarised Security Council has also failed to deal with current peace and security challenges, with Council members sharply divided on conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Mr. Jaishankar also held talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil on Monday about energy and economic cooperation, among other things.

“Pleased to meet FM @yvangil of Venezuela today on the sidelines of #UNGA79. Discussed energy, health and economic cooperation, as also reformed multilateralism,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post on X.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday (September 9, 2024) described the situation in Gaza as India’s “foremost concern” and said New Delhi supports an Israel-Hamas ceasefire “as soon as possible”.

Mr, Jaishankar made the remarks while speaking at the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue in the Saudi capital.

“The current situation in Gaza is now understandably our foremost concern. India’s position in this regard has been principled and consistent. While we condemn acts of terrorism and hostage taking, we are deeply pained by the continuing death of innocent civilians,” he said.

Mr. Jaishankar said that any response must take into account the principles of humanitarian law. “We support a ceasefire as soon as possible,” he added.

On October 7, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel by land, air and sea, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others. Israel launched offensive in Gaza, causing widespread devastation and killing around 40,000 people, according to local health officials.

The two sides have so far failed to reach a cease-fire to end the 11-month-old conflict.

Mr. Jaishankar said India has consistently stood for a resolution of the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution. India has also contributed to the building of Palestinian institutions and capacities, he added.

“Where the humanitarian situation is concerned, we have provided relief and increased our support to UNRWA,” he added.

The GCC is an influential grouping, comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The total volume of India’s trade with GCC countries stood at USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23.

Mr. Jaishankar said it was a great pleasure for him to participate in the first India-GCC Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue and added that the meeting is not just an occasion to reflect on achievements but an opportunity to chart an ambitious and far-reaching course for the future.

“The relationship between India and the GCC is rooted in a rich tapestry of history, culture, and shared values. These bonds have grown stronger with time, evolving into a partnership that spans economics, energy, defence, technology, education, people-to-people ties and beyond,” he said.

Underlining that there are many ways to contemplate partnership between the two sides, the minister offered the framework of 3Ps – People, Prosperity and Progress.

‘90 lakh Indians in Gulf’

“Our people-to-people ties are the bedrock of our relationship. Close to 9 million Indians work and live amongst you, acting as a living bridge between us. Their contributions to your economic progress are widely recognized. We thank you for ensuring their welfare and comfort,” he said.

He said trade has not only expanded in volume but also in diversity, encompassing a wide range of goods and services that fuel economies and create jobs. “The task before us is to invest in each other’s future and support each other’s continued prosperity,” he said.

He identified the GCC as a cornerstone of global energy supply and said India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets. “Much of the future demand is going to come from us. Our deeper collaboration will help in stabilizing markets, driving innovation and enhancing energy security,” he added.

“Our partnership in the areas of renewables, technology and innovation, health, space, and education can also help realize our respective national goals,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

Mr. Jaishankar said that the GCC-India relationship is built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future. “It has a larger goal of advancing progress in a world that is characterized by technological advancements, changing geopolitics, shifts in the global economy and the urgent need to address environmental sustainability,” he said.

Noting that the Gulf region occupies a central place in contemporary geopolitics, the minister said that, “in a world polarised by conflict and tension, we share a commitment to global peace, security, and stability.” Underlining that sometimes it is adversity that brings out the real importance of friendships, the Minister said that the pandemic underlined how relevant we are to each other for health security, food security and maritime security.

“Similarly, the demands of AI, of electric mobility and of green growth highlight the importance of sharing human resources. Conflict and tensions bring out the importance of cooperating on connectivity. In a world moving towards multipolarity, we can be mutually supportive of each other’s aspirations,” he said.

“Let us use this platform to deepen our ties, explore new avenues of cooperation, and build a collaborative future,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa attend a press conference at a Quad Ministerial Meeting at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2024..
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

The Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) has additional responsibilities of upholding a rules-based order and collaboration under the grouping can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free and secure, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Monday, July 29, 2024 amid China’s increasing assertiveness in the region.

In his opening remarks at a foreign ministerial conclave of Quad, Mr. Jaishankar said a clear message should be sent that the Quad is “here to stay, here to do and here to go.” “As political democracies, pluralistic societies and market economies, there is the key question of upholding a rules-based order,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

Also read: Jaishankar holds talks with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken in Tokyo

“It is only our collaboration that can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free, remains open, stable, secure and prosperous. The commitment to doing global good that we have all undertaken has a resonance far beyond this region,” he said.

“It is therefore essential that our political understanding strengthens, our economic partnerships grow, our technology collaborations expand and our people-to-people comfort intensifies,” the External Affairs Minister added.

Besides Mr. Jaishankar, the meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Australia’s Penny Wong.

“Our meeting should send a clear message, that the Quad is here to stay, here to do and here to go,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

In her comments, Australian Foreign Minister Wong, without directly naming China, highlighted the need to ensure that “sovereignty is respected and competition is managed responsibly”.

She called for working collectively to build a region “where size or power do not determine a country’s fate. Where no country dominates, and no country is dominated. Where we all share in our aspirations.” “And have choices available to realise those aspirations. Over the last two years I have seen the Quad’s commitment to this vision of the Indo-Pacific,” she said.

‘Global economic growth’

In his remarks, Mr. Jaishankar also talked about the need to work towards ensuring global economic growth and de-risking it.

“These are not easy times. A major challenge is to ensure global economic growth, while also de-risking it. Supply chains are a particular focus for resilience, just as we push for trusted and transparent digital partnerships,” he said.

“The march of technology has also acquired extraordinary proportions, holding possibilities of the very manner in which we live, think and act. In a sense, we are in the midst of a re-globalisation,” he said.

“At the same time, it is only our collective endeavours that can proof the international system against disruptions, man-made or natural,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

The Quad foreign ministerial meeting is taking place amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Hamas-Israel hostilities.

It is expected that the Quad foreign ministers would discuss the consequences of the geo-political turmoil being witnessed in various parts of the globe.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during the unveiling of Mahatma Gandhi’s bust in Edogawa, Tokyo, Sunday, July 28, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The timeless message of Mahatma Gandhi that solutions do not come from a battlefield and no era should be an era of war is applicable even today when the world is witnessing conflict, polarisation and bloodshed, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on July 28.

Mr. Jaishankar’s remarks came as he unveiled a bust of the global Indian icon at Freedom Plaza in Edogawa, Tokyo.

Mr. Jaishankar arrived in Japan on July 28 from Laos for a two-day visit for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting. He was received by India’s Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George.

During the event, Mr. Jaishankar spoke about Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless messages.

“I would say today, at a time when we are seeing so much conflict in the world, so much tension, so much polarisation, so much bloodshed, it’s very important that Gandhiji’s message was that solutions do not come from a battlefield, that no era should be an era of war. And that message applies today as much as it did 80 years ago,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

“A second message is something which we all think today in terms of sustainability, of climate friendliness, of green growth, green policies. Gandhiji was the original prophet of sustainable growth,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

Gandhiji was the greatest advocate of how to live in harmony with nature, he said.

“So the message of Gandhiji, that it is not just something for governments to do, but for everybody to do in their personal life, that is something which again we pass on. And of course, Gandhiji was an advocate of inclusiveness and that is what we are seeing in India and across the world today,” he said.

He said Edogawa Ward decided to build a relationship with India by having this wonderful statue of “the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi”.

In India, the people think of Gandhi Ji as the father of the nation, he said.

“But for the world, he is actually a global icon. And we have to ask ourselves today, why is it important to have this statue here? And I can think of three reasons. One is that the achievements of Mahatma Gandhi have far outlived his own times, with the passage of time they have got more and more importance.”

Second, the message that Mahatma Gandhi gave through his life and through his work is timeless, he said.

“What he taught us was important then, it is important even now. And three, I was told this is a place, somebody called it Little India, I hope it becomes bigger, but this is a place where the Indian community in Tokyo lives and gathers in large numbers. And I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion and a better way of strengthening bonds between India and Japan than by this event,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

He said without Mahatma Gandhi, India’s independence struggle would perhaps have taken a much longer path or gone in a different direction.

The independence of India actually decolonised the entire world, it was the starting point of a “very momentous event”, he said.

“When India became free, other parts of Asia became free, Africa became free, Latin America became free…Today when we say India is the fifth largest economy in the world, where the world is changing, it is heading towards multipolarity, that when the G7 becomes the G20, in a way, all this was started as a result of what Gandhiji did in history,” he said.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar being welcomed by Governor of Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, Senthil Thondaman, upon his arrival in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 20, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday, June 20, 2024, his first visit here in his second consecutive term in office, during which he will hold talks with the country’s leadership to bolster bilateral ties.

Also read: India will collaborate with Sri Lanka on debt treatment: Nirmala Sitharaman

Mr. Jaishankar was received by Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Senthil Thondaman, Governor of the Eastern Province, on his arrival in Colombo.

“Landed in Colombo for my first visit in the new term. Thank Minister of State @TharakaBalasur1 and Governor of Eastern province @S_Thondaman for the warm welcome. Look forward to my meetings with the leadership,” Mr. Jaishankar posted on X.

Sri Lanka is central to India’s Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies, he wrote.

Mr. Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe jointly unveiled the virtual plaque to mark the formal commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Lanka under a $6 million grant from India, according to the Presidential Media Division Colombo.

This includes a centre at Navy headquarters in Colombo, a sub-centre in Hambantota and unmanned installations at Galle, Arugambay, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kallarawa, Point Pedro and Mollikulam, said the statement.

Mr. WickremesingheDr. Jaishankar jointly unveiled the virtual plaque for 106 houses in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale under the Indian Housing Project with 24 houses in each model village in Colombo and Trincomalee being handed over virtually.

Neighbourhood-first policy

Under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, India is committed to developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its neighbours.

SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region is India’s vision and geopolitical framework of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.

The trip to Sri Lanka will be Mr. Jaishankar’s standalone bilateral visit after he assumed charge as the External Affairs Minister for the second term on June 11.

Mr. Jaishankar was last week part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s delegation at the G7 Outreach summit in Italy’s Apulia region.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said the External Affairs Minister will have meetings with the Sri Lankan leadership on wide-ranging issues.

“This will be the External Affairs Minister’s first bilateral visit after the formation of the new government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” it said.

“Reaffirming India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time-tested friend,” the MEA said in a statement.

“The visit will add momentum to connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors,” it said.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was among seven top leaders from India’s neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Union Council of Ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.

(With inputs from PTI)

Canada Minister Marc Miller. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller has rejected External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remark that Ottawa is “lax” about admitting people into the country, saying authorities conduct a criminal record check on people entering Canada on student visas.

On May 4, Mr. Jaishankar said that India had “convinced them (Canadian authorities) several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship. “But the Canadian government has not done anything,” Mr. Jaishankar said, adding that India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed.

His remarks came after Canadian authorities charged three Indian nationals with the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. It is reported that they entered Canada on student visas.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Karan Brar (22) Kamalpreet Singh (22) and Karanpreet Singh (28) all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, have been charged on Friday with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Responding to a question on April 7 about Mr. Jaishankar’s remarks, Mr. Miller said, “We’re not lax, and the Indian Foreign Minister is entitled to his opinion,” reported the Cable Public Affairs Channel — a Canadian speciality television channel.

When asked what the Canadian government planned on doing about it, he said, “About what the Indian Foreign Minister said? Let him speak his mind. It’s just not accurate.” He said that Canada conducts a criminal record check on people entering the country on student visas, and when asked how this works, he said. “You check them in if they have a criminal record; they don’t come in.” Canada takes “any report like this very seriously,” Mr. Miller said.

He refused to confirm if the three Indians arrested for Nijjar’s murder were in Canada on a student visa, asserting that there’s information that he can’t share at the time because of the ongoing police investigation.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of 45-year-old Nijjar, a Khalistan separatist.

India has dismissed Mr. Trudeau’s charges as “absurd” and “motivated.” The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has long frustrated India, which had designated Nijjar a “terrorist.” After the arrest of the three Indian nationals in connection with the murder, police in Canada said they had worked with the U.S. law enforcement agencies without giving additional details. The police suggested more arrests might be coming.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, the force’s commander for the Pacific region said last week that he wouldn’t comment on the alleged links between the three men arrested and Indian officials but noted the force is “investigating connections to the government of India.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Jaishankar on May 4 said what is happening in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Nijjar is mostly due to their internal vote bank politics and has nothing to do with India.

He said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canada’s democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on April 6 said India’s gesture to renew the quota to allow the export of certain quantities of essential commodities for his nation signifies the longstanding bilateral friendship and the commitment to further expand trade and commerce.

“India allowed the export of certain quantities of essential commodities for the year 2024-25 at the request of the Maldives government,” the Indian High Commission said, in Male, on April 5.

Announcing the move through a post on social media platform X, the Indian High Commissioner said that this was being done “under a unique bilateral mechanism” under which the quotas for each of these items have been revised upwards.

“The approved quantities are the highest since this arrangement came into effect in 1981,” the notice by the mission said. Mr. Zameer took to X to thank India for the move.

“I sincerely thank EAM @DrSJaishankar and the Government of #India for the renewal of the quota to enable #Maldives to import essential commodities from India during the years 2024 and 2025,” Mr. Zameer wrote.

“This is truly a gesture which signifies the longstanding friendship, and the strong commitment to further expand bilateral trade and commerce between our two countries,” he said.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded to Zameer’s post, saying India stands firmly committed to its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies.

Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is India’s policy or doctrine of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy underlines the renewed primacy that the country seeks to attach to its neighbouring countries.

The announcement for the renewal of the quota comes amidst a diplomatic row between the two countries since November last year when President Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, within hours of taking the oath demanded India to repatriate its 88 military personnel from his country.

The relations further deteriorated when three Maldivian officials made crass comments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted photos and videos of the Lakshadweep Islands resulting in a heavy backlash by Indians, including many celebrities. #BoycottMaldives campaign resulted in a significant decline in Indian tourists to the island nation too.

The 1981 India and Maldives trade agreement provides for the export of essential commodities. According to the records from the Indian High Commission, growing from modest beginnings, India-Maldives bilateral trade crossed the $300 million mark for the first time in 2021, which further crossed the $500 million mark in 2022.

According to Friday’s announcement, there has also been an increase of 5% in the quotas for eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, rice, wheat flour and dal (pulses).

Last year as well, India continued the export of rice, sugar and onions to the Maldives despite a worldwide ban on export of these items from India. “India remains strongly committed to supporting human-centric development in the Maldives, as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First policy,” it said.

“The quota for river sand and stone aggregates, crucial items for the booming construction industry in the Maldives, has been increased by 25% to 10,00,000 MT each,” it added.

Surrounded by the ocean, the islands in the Maldives and the many atolls don’t have enough river sand to support their construction industry, hence the need for importing sand and stone aggregates to the country.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (left) shakes hands with Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo after holding a joint press conference at the Sofitel Hotel in Manila on March 26, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

India supports the Philippines’ sovereignty, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Manila, in comments that sparked a response from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which called on “third countries” not to “interfere”.

Mr. Jaishankar’s visit to Manila on Tuesday, where he met Philippines President Bongbong Marcos and Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, is part of a three-nation five-day tour to Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia.

“I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty,” said Mr. Jaishankar, reading his opening statement to the media during a joint press conference after talks with Mr. Manalo. He said that the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) was the “the constitution of the seas” and all parties “must adhere to it in its entirety, both in letter and in spirit”, in comments seen as aimed at China, whose Navy and Coast Guard have been frequently accused of violating sovereign waters of other countries and claiming islands. China’s actions have drawn protest from many Asian neighbours, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia in the South China Sea (SCS) region.

The External Affairs Minister also visited the Indian Coast Guard pollution-control ship ICGS Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday, that is on a port call in Manila until Thursday, and hailed maritime cooperation between the two countries. In a speech he gave on board the Indian ship docked at Manila’s South Harbour, Mr. Jaishankar said that the ship’s visit was “significant”, because it highlighted “shared challenges” that India and Philippines face on oceanic pollution, illegal fishing and protecting the environment in the region. He also underlined the need for “like-minded countries” in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance cooperation.

Mr. Jaishankar’s Manila visit came as tensions between the Philippines and Chinese navies rose to new levels over aggressive maritime moves by the Chinese Coast Guard against a Filipino ship meant to carry supplies to their troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre ship in the Spratly Islands. On Monday, the Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned the Chinese envoy to protest the actions, including the Chinese Coast Guard ship’s physical blocking of the Philippines ship, firing it with a water cannon that injured three of its soldiers. The Chinese Coast Guard, meanwhile claimed that it was legitimately guarding “Chinese waters” from the “foreign vessel”.

Reacting sharply to Mr. Jaishankar’s comments in Manila within hours, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on India and the Philippines to “respect China’s territorial sovereignty”.

“Maritime disputes are issues between countries concerned. Third parties have no right to interfere whatsoever,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian said. “We urge relevant parties to squarely face the facts and truth on the South China Sea issue, and respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and the efforts of regional countries to keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable,” he added.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs did not respond to requests for a response to the Chinese MFA’s remarks. Apart from the current controversy, Beijing is understood to be watching India’s sale of Brahmos missiles to the Philippines very closely, deliveries for which are expected to be begin shortly.

During talks with Mr. Manalo, Mr. Jaishankar said he discussed other areas of growing cooperation between the two countries including trade, capacity-building in digital infrastructure, regional issues including the Indo-Pacific, Myanmar, the Ukraine war and cooperation in common fora including the UN and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). He said he had briefed the Philippines Minister on Indian naval deployment in the Red Sea to counter threats from Houthi militia and piracy. He also highlighted rescue operations, including those where Indian naval personnel have helped Philippines nationals on board ships in distress including the MV True Confidence and MV Lila Norfolk.