India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian held productive talks on Monday (February 21).
The two ministers discussed bilateral cooperation and the Indo-Pacific in detail. They also discussed the current Russia-Ukraine crisis situation. Jaishankar wrote on his Twitter: “Arrived in Paris. Had an extensive and fruitful conversation with FM Jean-Yves Le Drian.”
“Discussions on bilateral cooperation, the situation in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific and the JCPOA reflect our deep trust and global partnership. Look forward to participating in the EU Ministerial Forum on the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
On Sunday, Jaishankar began his three-day visit to France and will also deliver a speech at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
Indian External Affairs Minister is set to attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on 22 February. The forum is important from India’s point of view as it will take place amid Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Jaishankar made this visit after attending the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2022 in Germany, where he held several meetings with ministers from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.
The United States and Western allies have estimated that Russia has placed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders in recent weeks, worsening border tensions.
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(with inputs from agencies)