German Chancellor Oalf Scholz quoted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's viral "European mindset" remark during the Munich Security Conference.
Mr. Jaishankar, during the 17th edition of the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum in Slovakia last year, replied to a question on India's stand in the Russia-Ukraine war, and said, "Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems, but the world's problems are not Europe's problems."
The context was used by the German Chancellor on February 18 during the Munich Security Conference as he suggested a change in the so-called "mindset" and said that Mr. Jaishankar has "a point".
"This quote from the Indian Foreign Minister is included in this year's Munich Security Report and he has a point it wouldn't be Europe's problem alone if the law of the strong were to assert itself in international relations," Mr. Scholz said.
He also said that to be a credible European or North American in Jakarta, New Delhi, it is not enough to emphasise shared values. "We have to generally address the interests and concerns of these countries as a basic prerequisite for joint action. And that's why it was so important to me to not merely have representatives of Asia, Africa and Latin America at the negotiating table during the G-7 Summit last June.
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“I really wanted to work with these regions to find solutions to the main challenges they face growing poverty and hunger, partly as a consequence of Russia’s war, as well as the impact of climate change or COVID-19,” he added.
Last year, during the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum, Mr. Jaishankar was asked why he thinks anyone will help New Delhi in case of a problem with China after it did not help others for Ukraine. "Somewhere Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems. That if it is you, it's yours, if it is me it is ours. I see reflections of that," he had said.
"There is a linkage today which is being made. A linkage between China and India and what's happening in Ukraine. China and India happened way before anything happened in Ukraine. The Chinese do not need a precedent somewhere else on how to engage us or not engage us or be difficult with us or not be difficult with us," he had added.
Published - February 20, 2023 10:38 am IST
