External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar embarked on a week-long visit to France, the European Union, and Belgium, to strengthen bilateral relations and reaffirm India’s firm stance against terrorism. The visit, announced by the Ministry of External Affairs, will focus on deepening strategic partnerships and foster cooperation across diverse sectors like trade, green energy, and counterterrorism.
In France, Jaishankar will be holding bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, in Paris and Marseille. These talks will mark 25 years of the India and France’s strategic partnership. Jaishankar will be participating in the inaugural Mediterranean Raisina Dialogue in Marseille, a platform to discuss regional connectivity. The India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) will be a key point of discussion especially due to the challenges that are arising because of the Israel Gaza conflict.
In Belgium, Jaishankar will engage in the first ministerial strategic dialogue with High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of EU Kaja Kallas. This will also build on the momentum set in motion by the EU College of Commissioners’ visit to India in February of this year. The dialogue aims to advance the India EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with a end of year deadline set for finalization. Meetings with the European Commission, European Parliament, and think tanks has been booked in India’s agenda to push for stronger economic and strategic ties. Further, Jaishankar will hold talks in Brussels with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, centred around trade, investment, and green energy.
India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism will be a point of focus in most of these talks. Dr. Jaishankar will be briefing his counterparts on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. This visit, his third to Europe in recent months, is in alignment with India’s broader diplomatic goals ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting and Prime Minister Modi’s G7 and BRICS engagements.
