Watch | Jaishankar Holds Talks With His Counterparts In Munich, Also Spotted Interacting With China’s Wang Yi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed bilateral ties and global matters, including the situation in West Asia and reformed multilateralism, at a premier security conference in Germany on Saturday.

Jaishankar is in Germany to attend the prestigious Munich Security Conference, which is the world’s leading forum for debate on international security. Jaishankar, who held talks with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Portugal, Poland, and Belgium, also had a brief interaction with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the conference.

This comes as the two sides are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in Ladakh. Both countries have completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. Last month, Jaishankar said it was necessary to acknowledge that China will influence India’s neighbouring countries, and it must not be scared of such “competitive politics”.

In Munich, Jaishankar also held “a productive conversation” with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud on the sideline of the conference. “Discussed connectivity, the West Asia situation, and our strategic partnership,” Jaishankar posted on X on Saturday. He held a “big picture chat” with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide and spoke about the imperative of reformed multilateralism and a more equitable world order.

Jaishankar said it was a “pleasure” to meet his Portugal counterpart Joao Gomes Cravinho in Munich. “Shared views on recent global developments,” he posted on X. Jaishankar held “a deep discussion” on the Russia-Ukraine conflict with his counterpart from Poland Radosław Sikorski. “Also exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation in different domains,” Jaishankar posted on X.

He also met his Belgian counterpart, Hadja Lahbib. “Glad to work with the Belgian Presidency of the EU, as well as in advancing our bilateral ties,” Jaishankar said on X. He also held a warm conversation with Friedrich Merz, the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany. “Recognise his strong support for deeper India-Germany and India-EU relations,” Jaishankar said.  He also held a meeting with German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner.

“Appreciate his insights and assessments,” Jaishankar said on X. He held a useful exchange of views on contemporary politics with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He joined his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal, Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission EU fit for Digital Age and Commissioner for Competition and Meghan O’Sullivan, former US deputy national security adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan for a discussion.

The session was titled ‘Vishwa Mitra: Bridging the Divide’ and hosted by Observer Research Foundation, an independent global think tank. “A lively discussion on the world order; past, present and upcoming,” Jaishankar posted on X. He also spoke to two leading German dailies – Handelsblatt and Die Zeit. On Sunday, Jaishankar wrote on X that he met Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and exchanged views on the current situation in Gaza.

(With agency inputs)