EAM begins Europe visit, to flag India’s zero tolerance to terror

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday began a weeklong visit to Europe where he will meet top leaders of France, EU and Belgium to strengthen bilateral ties and reiterate India’s zero tolerance for terrorism and the new position on counter-terrorism.

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The visit will see EAM engage with top leaders of France and the EU, who will be attending the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be attending the summit as a special invitee after his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney invited him for the meeting, signalling thaw in ties that had strained during the Justin Trudeau years. The visit, Modi’s first to Canada since 2015, may reset bilateral ties after prolonged tensions over Khalistani elements in Canada targeting Indian diplomats and killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Jaishankar’s talks with French and EU leaders, where he will convey India’s position on terrorism in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack, is expected to lay the ground for PM’s engagements in Canada.

A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs today said Jaishankar would be on an official visit to France, EU and Belgium from Sunday until June 14.

“India and France have completed 25 years of strategic partnership. Our relations with France are rooted in deep trust and commitment, and our two countries cooperate closely across all domains of strategic and contemporary relevance besides sharing similar outlook on many regional and global issues,” the MEA said.

During the first leg of his visit, the EAM would travel to Paris and Marseille where he would be holding bilateral discussions with his counterpart Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean Noel Barrot.

He will also engage with the senior leadership of France and interact with think tanks and media. Jaishankar would also participate in the inaugural edition of the Mediterranean Raisina Dialogue, which is being held in the city of Marseille.

Jaishankar will hold a strategic dialogue with the EU High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas, and will engage with the senior leadership from the European Commission and the European Parliament, besides interacting with think tanks and media, during his EU engagements.

India-European Union strategic partnership has strengthened over the years across diverse sectors and got a big boost with the first-ever visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February this year.

While in Belgium, the minister will hold bilateral consultations with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium Maxime Prevot and meet the senior leadership there.

He will also interact with the members of the Indian community.

“India and Belgium share warm and friendly relations along with a very robust economic partnership. Today, the collaboration between the two countries spans various domains like trade and investment, green energy, technology, pharmaceutical, diamond sector and strong people-to-people ties,” the MEA said.

The EAM’s visit is expected to further deepen India’s friendly relations with the European Union, France and Belgium and give renewed momentum to ongoing cooperation in diverse areas, the official statement added.