External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed bilateral relations and global affairs, including the situation in West Asia and reformed multilateralism, at a major security meeting in Germany on Saturday.

Jaishankar is in Germany to attend the prestigious Munich Security Conference, the world’s leading forum for international security debate. Jaishankar held talks with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Portugal, Poland and Belgium and had a brief interaction with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the meeting.

This comes as the two sides have been locked in a more than three-year confrontation over certain friction points in Ladakh. After extensive diplomatic and military talks, the two countries have completed disengagement from multiple areas. Jaishankar said last month that it must be acknowledged that China will influence India’s neighboring countries and that such “competitive politics” must not be feared.

In Munich, Jaishankar also had a “productive dialogue” with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the meeting. “Discussed connectivity, the situation in West Asia and our strategic partnership,” Jaishankar posted on X on Saturday. He held a “big picture conversation” with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Bart Eide and spoke of the need for reformed multilateralism and a fairer world order.

Jaishankar said that he was pleased to meet with Portuguese Foreign Minister Joao Gomez Cravinho in Munich. He posted on X that he “shared his views on recent global developments.” Jaishankar held “intensive discussions” with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Views were also exchanged on our bilateral cooperation in different fields,” Jaishankar posted on X.

He also met with his Belgian counterpart Hadja Lahbib. Jaishankar said on the 10th: “I am very happy to cooperate with the Belgian EU rotating presidency to promote the development of bilateral relations.” He also had a warm conversation with Friedrich Merz, leader of the German Christian Democratic Union. . “Recognizing his strong support for deepening India-Germany and India-EU relations,” Jaishankar said. He also met German Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Plotner.

“I appreciate his insights and assessments,” Jaishankar said on X. He had a useful exchange of views on contemporary politics with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He was joined by his Saudi counterpart Faisal, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, European Commission Executive Vice-President and EU Competition Commissioner for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager and former US deputy national security adviser for Iraq Meghan O Sullivan together. Afghanistan for discussion.

The conference was titled “Vishwa Mitra: Bridging the Divide” and was hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, an independent global think tank. “A lively discussion about world order; past, present and future,” Jaishankar posted on X. He also gave interviews to two of Germany’s leading daily newspapers, Handelsblatt and Die Zeit.

(Institutional investment)