External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said India views Luxembourg as a “very important” partner, exuding confidence that the two countries can enhance bilateral cooperation in several different fields, such as fintech, space, and AI.
On a six-day visit to France and Luxembourg, Jaishankar held talks with Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden on “growing” bilateral cooperation, including in finance, investment and tech sectors.
Here’s what he said during the delegation-level talks with Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Luxembourg and an interaction with Indian diaspora in Luxembourg
On partnership with Luxembourg
Jaishankar remarked that India sees Luxembourg as a “very important” partner, both bilaterally and within the European Union, and at a “very crucial time in the development of our own ties” with the EU. “The influence that you have in shaping that larger relationship, the support that you extend, that is something which is of great value to us,” he said. He stated that apart from a “very solid trade account” shared by the countries, New Delhi and Luxembourg can collaborate on issues like fintech, space, the digital world, and AI.
Later taking to X, Jaishankar called the meeting “excellent” and said he had a warm interaction with Bettel, “covering our bilateral cooperation and the global situation”. “Specifically discussed finance, investments, digital, AI, space and talent mobility. As well as continued deepening of India-EU ties. Appreciate his personal interest in explaining Luxembourg’s heritage and tradition,” he said.
On neighbourhood policy
Jaishankar said that over time, India has emerged as a very reliable neighbour for the South Asian countries. Citing India’s response in the times of disasters like cyclone in Sri Lanka, earthquake in Myanmar and Afghanistan, Jaishankar said, “When big problem happen to countries and they do not have the capacity to cope with it, they naturally turn to those who do. And in our region, there is a growing belief that the country which can be relied upon in this regard is India.” He emphasised that this belief has come out of experience. “It happened because when the covid pandemic took place, almost everyone of our neighbouring countries got their first vaccines from us. When the Ukraine war started, many countries found that the energy supplies were cut off or became very expensive … it was we who stepped forward,” he added.
On relationship with Pakistan as neighbour
Jaishankar termed India’s relationship with Pakistan an “exception”, slamming the estranged neighbour for backing “terrorist training camps” openly in big cities.
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“Our relationship with Pakistan is an exception,” Jaishankar said. “Because, if you look at the world, show me in the world, in this day and age, any country which has pursued the kind of policies like Pakistan — that for decades who had these training camps in big cities … very open … where the state, military support terrorism and they try to normalise it as though its their right to do it. (…Though) Nobody buys it anymore,” Jaishankar stated.
This is a “very unpalatable reality”, he rued. “But India has now built its policy saying this is how that particular neighbour is going to be,” he said.
