Amidst recent remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar engaged with his European Union counterparts at an informal meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The meeting, hosted by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, included ministers from Brazil and Mexico, addressing critical global issues.
The discussions encompassed a wide array of topics, including multilateralism, the India-EU partnership, the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, energy, and trade. Kallas emphasized the importance of partnerships with India, Brazil, and Mexico in safeguarding the rules-based global order, noting the EU's recent unveiling of a blueprint to deepen ties with India and Mexico by updating its free trade agreement. She also described the situation in Gaza as a "devastating failure of humanity", urging Israel to lift humanitarian restrictions immediately and stressing that expanding settlements and annexing territory were incompatible with peace.
Jaishankar's presence at the meeting and his perspectives on India's stance on these global issues were reportedly well-received. This engagement comes at a time when Trump's views on various international matters, including trade, climate change, and the role of international organizations, have been making headlines.
Trump has been a vocal critic of renewable energy, calling it a "joke" and climate change a "con job". He has also criticized Europe for spending more on Russian oil and gas than on defending Ukraine, reigniting a past moment where Jaishankar had advocated against the West's hegemony. Jaishankar had previously pointed out that the European Union's imports of fossil fuels from Russia far exceeded those of India. He stated that Europe needs 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".
In a video from early September 2025, Jaishankar seemingly alluded to Trump's protectionist trade policies, agreeing with his German counterpart on the need for "predictability" in international relations. During the discussion, it was highlighted that Germany and the European Union, in a way, hold equivalent importance for India, just as India does for Germany. Both India and Germany prioritize democratic principles and regulatory steps, showing diligence in adhering to certain details.
The meeting between Jaishankar and his EU counterparts underscores the importance of India's strategic partnerships in a rapidly changing global landscape. Despite differing viewpoints and approaches among nations, the need for collaboration and dialogue on pressing global challenges remains paramount.
