External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar today called out the selective criticism of terrorism and major conflicts around the world. Addressing an event in New Delhi, Dr Jaishankar said that the world is currently witnessing two major conflicts that are often presented as matters of principle but these principles have selectively and unevenly been applied. He said that India has yet to see aggression on the territory vacated after so many decades. The minister criticized that terrorism has been overlooked when convenient. He mentioned that in Asia, International law has been disregarded with significant consequences. He said that different standards have been applied to India’s neighbours in the East and the West. Dr Jaishankar said that the agenda can no longer be set by some, only to be observed by the rest.

Talking about India-EU relationships, Dr Jaishankar said that in a world that promises to be so volatile and so uncertain, a stronger India-EU relationship can be an important stabilizing factor. The Minister added that the India-EU relationship is more important than ever before.

In the Free-Trade Agreement, the Minister said that the Trade and Technology Council was established to deal with controlled technologies and digital transactions between the two economies. He mentioned that the European Union is India’s largest economic partner and one particular initiative that merits attention is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Dr Jaishankar said that India is simultaneously seeking to build land connectivity eastwards through Southeast Asia, and when both initiatives are put together, it is an Atlantic-to-Pacific endeavour.