EAM Jaishankar says managing the US, China, Russia diplomacy is harder than before, here's why

External Affairs Minister says India must make hard foreign policy choices and stay nimble as global alignments shift and neighbourhood politics remain volatile.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India must operate with a clear foreign policy “game plan” and avoid ambiguity as global politics becomes increasingly complex and unpredictable, according to ANI.

Speaking at an event on the sidelines of the Pune Book Festival, Jaishankar said foreign policy requires making clear choices aligned with national interest, not hesitation.

“When you look at foreign policy, you must have clarity; you have to make the choices. You must have a game plan,” Jaishankar said, stressing that India should identify what works in its favour and pursue it consistently, ANI reported.

He argued that India should articulate its strategic thinking in its own civilisational terms rather than relying on Western academic narratives that often question India’s tradition of statecraft.

Jaishankar said India’s engagement with key global powers has grown more complicated in recent years.

“Engaging America has become more complicated. Managing China has become complicated. Reassuring Russia became complicated because of the Ukraine war,” he said, adding that Europe remains a critical partner that now requires greater diplomatic effort from New Delhi, according to ANI.

Referring to India’s immediate neighbourhood, Jaishankar said relations with smaller neighbouring countries are politically sensitive and prone to fluctuations.

“Sometimes they praise us, sometimes they criticise us… knowing it will go up and down, how do you make sure the relationship is as steady as possible?” he said, underlining the need for consistency despite political swings, ANI reported.

As context, Jaishankar cited India’s actions during recent crises, including rapid assistance to Sri Lanka during and after Cyclone Ditwah, support to neighbours during the COVID-19 pandemic, and supplies of fuel, wheat and fertilisers amid disruptions caused by the Ukraine conflict.

These responses, he said, reflect how India’s foreign policy translates into on-ground action in times of stress.

In a separate interaction at the literature festival, Jaishankar compared today’s global order to coalition politics, with shifting alignments and no single dominant power.

“The world today is like coalition politics… there is no majority of anyone,” he said, adding that India must remain nimble, partnering with different countries on different issues while keeping national interest as the guiding principle, ANI reported.