External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that "at the end of the day, neighbours need each other," responding to the 'India Out' campaign in Maldives. The EAM made this statement while responding to a question during an interaction with students at the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai.
Drawing on China as an example, Jaishankar asserted, "China is also a neighbouring country and, in many ways, will, as part of competitive politics, influence these. I don't think we should be scared of China. I think we should say, okay, global politics is a competitive game. You do your best, and I will do my best...China is a major economy. It will deploy resources. It will try and shape things in China's way. Why should we expect otherwise? But the answer to that is not to complain about what China is doing. The answer is, okay, you are doing it. Let me do better than."
Highlighting India's capabilities and interests, Jaishankar mentioned the Indian Navy's deployment of warships in the Red Sea region to address attacks on merchant navy vessels.
"India's greater capability, our own interest and our reputation today warrant that we actually help out in difficult situations," he stated during an interaction with students.
Jaishankar pointed out that India has developed a powerful narrative in the last decade, citing the naval deployment in the Red Sea region and India's response to earthquakes in Turkey, as well as its assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He stressed the importance of being a responsible country, stating, "We will not be considered a responsible country if bad things are happening around our neighbourhood and we say I have got nothing to do with this. When you are in trouble, the neighbourhood will say the same".
Regarding the question of "kinetic actions" akin to the US and the UK, Jaishankar affirmed India's choice to contribute to safety and security through "non-kinetic means", emphasising India's independence in decision-making.
"At the moment, our choice today is to contribute to the safety and security. We are doing a lot of non-kinetic contributions out there but independently, because at the end of the day we are an independent country," Jaishankar said.
Notably, the Indian warship INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani crew members from a fishing vessel attacked by pirates on the east coast of Somalia, showcasing India's commitment to anti-piracy efforts.
The Indian Navy has increased its deployment in the Red Sea region in response to rising attacks on merchant navy vessels, including recent interventions to contain a fire on a commercial container oil tanker and thwart a piracy attempt on an Iranian fishing vessel.