Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Sep 24: On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a flurry of high-level bilateral meetings with counterparts from across the globe, reaffirming India’s diplomatic momentum and leadership in the Global South.
Among his key engagements was a meeting with St. Lucia's Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste, which Jaishankar described as a warm and engaging conversation. “Always enjoy his company,” he posted.
With Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Jaishankar held strategic discussions touching on European developments, the Ukraine conflict, and avenues for strengthening India-EU cooperation under Denmark's current presidency.
A brief but meaningful exchange with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan took place during the High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries, where both leaders exchanged views on regional coordination and shared priorities.
In a meeting with Netherlands’ Foreign Minister David van Weel, Jaishankar discussed European strategic positioning and India’s evolving global approach. He praised the discussion as particularly insightful.
The minister also met with Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, where he reiterated India's unwavering support for the development of the island nation, reinforcing India’s continued commitment to the Indian Ocean region.
During talks with Mauritius Foreign Minister Ritish Ramful, the focus was on sustaining the momentum from Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam's recent state visit to India, ensuring follow-through on bilateral commitments.
Furthering regional diplomacy, Jaishankar met with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, where both sides reviewed the progress of ongoing bilateral projects and cooperation.
These meetings followed the Like-Minded Global South Countries forum, which convened 18 nations representing a range of political systems and development stages. India’s active engagement underlines its broader push to position itself as a key voice of the Global South and a strategic bridge between developed and developing nations.