Last Update: February 23, 2023, 15:08 IST
S Jaishankar was addressing an event ‘Festival of Thinkers’ organized by Symbiosis International University in Pune. (File photo:
He said that every country has its own challenges and no challenge is as acute as that of national security.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday’s picture India Today belongs to a country which is ready to go to any extent to protect its national security.
He said that every country has its own challenges and no challenge is as acute as that of national security.
The Minister was addressing the ‘Festival of Thinkers’ organized by Symbiosis International University here.
“In the last few years, we have been tested for a long time on our western border. I think things are a bit different now and everyone would agree to that. Certain things happened in 2016 and 2019 and we have been tested and we are being tested at our northern borders.”
Jaishankar said that how India succeeds in this test will show our ability to stand up.
“We have an image today of a country that is ready to do whatever it takes to protect its national security. It (India) is a very tolerant country, a patient country, it is not a country that goes around fighting with other people, but it is a country that will not be pushed out. This is a country that will not let its basic bottom lines cross.”
“Since this is a polarized world, different countries will try to prejudice you. They will urge you. Sometimes they use very harsh words. How do you stand up to others who may not have the same capability and strength as you. We are seeing today,” he said.
Referring to the Ukraine conflict, he said the pressures that came with that conflict were also moments when our sense of freedom and self-confidence were tested.
“We are seen as independent and not only as standing up for our rights, which we should and are doing, but we are also becoming the voice of the global south. Last month, we had a consultation process before the G20. This happened for the first time. We as Chair of the G20, at the level of Prime Minister, myself, as Finance Minister, Trade Minister and Environment Minister, had consultations with 125 countries of the Global South.
“We want to go into the G20 saying that there is a large part of the world that is not sitting at that table, but they have legitimate interests and someone needs to speak for them. Not only as the voice of freedom and self-confidence, but also as the voice of the Global South.
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