Jaishankar Emphasizes Diplomacy and Economic Resilience During Bulgaria Visit

India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, reaffirmed India’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy amid rising global volatility.

Speaking after high-level meetings with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Jaishankar addressed pressing global challenges, including economic insecurity, supply chain disruptions, and terrorism.

Key Takeaways from the Bilateral Talks:
Conflict Resolution: Reaffirming India's stance, Jaishankar stated, "This is not an era of war," emphasizing that dialogue remains the only viable path forward.

Economic Security: To combat risks arising from ongoing global conflicts, he called for urgent supply chain diversification and resilience.

Global South Advocacy: Speaking as a voice for the Global South, Jaishankar highlighted critical vulnerabilities regarding food, energy, and fertilizer security, while calling for unimpeded and safe maritime trade.

Counter-Terrorism: The minister stressed that the international community must maintain a policy of "zero tolerance" toward terrorism, noting a strong alignment of views between India and Bulgaria on the matter.

Strengthening India-EU Ties
The discussions also focused on expanding bilateral cooperation and deepening India's engagement with the European Union. Key areas of review included:

• The conclusion of India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
• The Strategic & Defence Partnership.
• The Comprehensive Mobility Cooperation Framework.

Next Stop: Finland
Following his engagements in Bulgaria, Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Finland on June 11 to participate in the 14th edition of the Kultaranta Talks.

This year’s theme is "A World in Transition: Global, Regional and Local Perspectives," where he will also hold bilateral meetings with the Finnish leadership.

Source: ANI