EAM Jaishankar discusses West Asia conflict with Australian counterpart
New Delhi, April 14
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday discussed the evolving security situation in West Asia during a conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
In a post on X, he said that the two leaders exchanged views on the conflict in West Asia.
"Appreciated the exchange of views today with @SenatorWong of Australia on the West Asia conflict."
Earlier today, EAM also spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and discussed several aspects of the situation in West Asia with him.
Sa'ar said that Iran's harm to freedom of navigation through economic terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz requires action that will ensure the freedom of navigation for all countries, including India.
In a post on X, Sa'ar said, "A good conversation, as always, with my friend, India's Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar. We discussed Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Lebanon. I said that the firm American stance in the negotiations on conditions that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons (no enrichment in Iran, removal of enriched material from Iran) is critical for the entire international community," he said.
"I also said that Iran's harm to freedom of navigation and the global economy through economic terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz requires action that will ensure the freedom of navigation for all countries, including India and our friends in the Gulf," he added.
The call comes after Jaishankar concluded his official visit to the UAE.
Speaking on the primary focus of his high-level discussions, the External Affairs Minister told ANI, "..I met with Sheikh Mohammed, the President of the UAE. I brought with me a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and our conversation focused on our strategic relationship and its various initiatives, such as energy, economic trade, and the energy and trade relationship. The UAE is a major partner for us, so we discussed that."
— ANI
Reader Comments
The diplomatic balancing act is impressive. Talking to Australia, Israel, and the UAE all in a short span shows India's nuanced foreign policy. It's a complex region, and we have stakes with all sides.
While I appreciate the engagement, I hope our policy remains firmly rooted in protecting Indian lives and economic interests first. We have a large diaspora in the Gulf. Their safety should be paramount in these discussions.
The UAE partnership is the real highlight here. They are a major investor and energy supplier. Focusing on that strategic relationship is more concrete and beneficial for us than getting entangled in broader geopolitical disputes. Smart move by Jaishankar ji.
Freedom of navigation is non-negotiable. A huge portion of our oil comes through that strait. Any country threatening that is threatening India's economy. We must work with international partners to keep sea lanes open.
It's a delicate situation. India has traditionally had good relations with Iran. I hope our diplomacy can help de-escalate tensions rather than just aligning with one bloc. The world needs calm heads right now.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.