External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday criticized the inconsistent application of global principles, particularly when it comes to democracy and military rule, pointing out the “different standards” applied to India’s neighbours in the East and West.
In his keynote address at the IIC-Bruegel Annual Seminar in Delhi, Jaishankar emphasized that the global agenda should no longer be dictated by a select few and simply observed by the rest. “Even on issues like democracy and military rule, different standards have been applied to our neighbours in the East and West. It’s not that principles are dispensable, but the agenda can no longer be set by a few for others to follow,” he said.
Jaishankar further noted the ongoing global conflicts, specifically in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war, which are often framed as matters of principle but with selective and uneven enforcement. “The world is currently witnessing two major conflicts, often presented as matters of principle. Yet the record shows how selectively and unevenly these principles have been applied,” he explained.
The Minister also pointed to India’s own experience, noting that despite decades of occupation on its territory and the convenient overlooking of terrorism, international law has been disregarded in significant ways. “In India, we have yet to see aggression on our territory vacated after so many decades. Terrorism has been ignored when convenient. In our own continent, international law has been disregarded with significant consequences,” Jaishankar said.
He also underscored the importance of stronger India-EU relations in these turbulent times, calling them an essential stabilizing force in an uncertain world. “In a world that promises to be so volatile, a stronger India-EU relationship can be an important stabilizing factor. India is aware of the growing strategic awakening of Europe in recent years, which can drive deeper engagement, especially in defense, security, and technology cooperation,” Jaishankar added.
Notably, India and the European Union are two of the world’s largest economies, with substantial trade and investment synergies. The EU is India’s largest trading partner, while India ranks as the EU’s 9th largest trading partner in terms of bilateral trade in goods. Jaishankar emphasized that the India-EU relationship is more important than ever.
