Jaishankar on India's strategic position globally: 'Don't want too much foreign influence in decision-making'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (File photo)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday spoke about India's strategic position in the world and said that global relevance comes with its own set of challenges.

While interacting with students of IIT (BHU) Varanasi, EAM Dr S Jaishankar said, "The whole concept of 'Vishwa Bandhu' is how a country can maximise its friends and minimise its problems... It is not a passive concept. It requires credibility. You can have no enemies and be irrelevant. If you are relevant, some problems will accompany it..."

"As a country which, for many years, was ruled by a foreign power, there is a great deal of sensitivity to independence. We don't want to be ever tied to a foreign power where they have too much of an influence on our decision-making," he added, ANI reported.

He pointed out that every aspect of a nation's activities now has a global dimension and that ensuring a strong international presence requires both proactive engagement and resilience in the face of inevitable challenges.

He also discussed India's strategic partnerships and highlighted the complexity of managing relationships with global superpowers while maintaining national interests.

"But remember we are also a big country and big countries typically have so many interests that they cannot necessarily be tied to some other country on all issues. With every country, there will be touch points - things you agree on and things you agree with less," he said.

India must navigate these relationships carefully, particularly in fields like technology, where geopolitical sensitivities are high.

At the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam 3.0, he threw light on the rich history of Kashi city and explained how this holy city has remained a cultural magnet for the people for centuries.

Calling the city a true testimony to binding India together, the EAM said, "Kashi is probably the world's oldest continuous city. The reason why we are here today, why Kashi is so important, is for entire India, this is like a kind of a cultural magnet you can say. It is a place where every part of India relates to Kashi."

The EAM said that occasions like the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam serve as an important platform to bring together the varied languages, practices and the people. Kashi is a clear example of how India thrives as a nation, he said, adding, "There is an underlying culture, an underlying tradition and history that keeps all of us united."

On Saturday morning, EAM Jaishankar arrived in Varanasi on a special plane along with 50 delegates. He was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister AK Sharma.

(With inputs from ANI_