New Delhi, March 15: Against the backdrop of spiralling hostilities between Iran and the US, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) focusing on various aspects of the evolving situation in West Asia.
Jaishankar held the phone conversations with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Saturday night.
“Discussed ongoing developments related to the conflict in West Asia,” the external affairs minister said on social media on Sunday about his talks with the Saudi foreign minister.
On his conversation with Zayed Al Nahyan, Jaishankar said: “Exchanged views on various aspects of the regional situation.” It is learnt that India’s energy security figured in Jaishankar’s conversations with both foreign ministers.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
West Asia has been a major source of India’s energy procurement.
The external affairs minister’s conversation also came at a time India has been trying to forge a consensus position among the BRICS nations on the conflict.
India is the current chair of the influential bloc, which recently expanded to include Iran, the UAE and some other countries.
Iran’s counter-offensive against the UAE and other Gulf nations following the February 28 US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets has triggered some disquiet within the grouping.
As the chair of the grouping, India is now navigating the challenge of finding a common position for BRICS on the conflict. PTI
India-EU ties in focus as Jaishankar starts 2-day visit to Brussels New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday kick-started a two-day visit to Brussels for talks with his counterparts from member states of 27-nation European Union.
It is the first high-level visit from India to Brussels headquartered EU after the two sides firmed up a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January.
The external affairs ministry said Jaishankar is travelling to the capital of Belgium at the invitation of EU High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas to interact with foreign ministers of the 27 member states of the bloc at its Foreign Affairs Council Meeting.
“During the visit, the external affairs minister will also hold meetings with the leadership of the European Union, and his counterparts from Belgium and other EU member states,” the ministry said.
“The visit of the external affairs minister coming soon after the historic 16th India-EU summit is expected to further deepen India’s strategic partnership with the European Union,” it said in a brief statement.
India and the EU sealed the free trade agreement — billed as the “mother of all deals” — following the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top EU leadership on January 27.
As Jaishankar visit to Brussels is taking place amid the Iran-US conflict, the two sides are expected to deliberate on dealing with its consequences, especially on the flow of energy. (PTI)
