Speaking at the Diplomacy to Discourse session at the Pune Literature Festival on Saturday, Jaishankar said the question should instead focus on leadership. “You should have asked me, there is one Modi. Because at the end of the day, Shri Hanuman finally serves,” he said, adding that countries are shaped by leaders, their vision and trust, while others carry out that mandate.
Jaishankar said the current international order resembles coalition politics, with constantly changing relationships and no single dominant power bloc. In such a multipolar world, he emphasized, India must remain agile and make choices strictly based on national interest.
“There is no majority of anyone. Combinations are formed, deals are made and partners change depending on the issue,” he said, adding that India should have the flexibility to work with several countries simultaneously without being stuck in rigid alliances. His guiding principle, he said, is simple: whatever helps India.
The Foreign Secretary said the management of India’s foreign relations has become significantly more complex over the past five years. Relations with the United States require constant recalibration, ties with China remain difficult, and reassuring Russia has become a challenge under pressure related to the war in Ukraine.
Jaishankar said bringing Japan into the game has also become more complicated as Tokyo moves at its own pace, while Europe has emerged as an increasingly important partner requiring deeper involvement.
About India’s neighbors, Jaishankar said relations are shaped by asymmetry and volatile domestic politics in the neighboring countries. Smaller countries closely linked to India often fluctuate between praise and criticism, making it difficult to keep ties stable.
Despite this, he said, India has consistently acted as a first responder. He cited assistance to Sri Lanka during a recent cyclone, the supply of vaccines to neighboring countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, and support with fuel and fertilizer when global supply chains were disrupted by the conflict in Ukraine.
India, he said, must behave like the head of a family and take responsibility for regional stability even if differences arise.
On whether India should speak out on global issues, Jaishankar said silence could lead to marginalization in a multipolar world. At the same time, diplomacy requires judgment about when to assert and when to exercise restraint.
“If you don’t speak up, the world will oppress you. It is important to raise your voice when necessary,” he said.
Responding to brain drain concerns, Jaishankar said the global demand for Indian professionals reflects India’s growing reputation. Many Indians work abroad for a few years and return to build businesses at home, he said.
With Indian workers in demand across sectors around the world, the minister said young Indians must increasingly see the world as a shared workplace, reflecting the emergence of a strong global brand for India.
The Pune Literature Festival is being held on the sidelines of the ongoing Pune Book Festival.
– Ends
With PTI inputs.
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