New Delhi: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar has underscored India’s need for diverse and expansive energy partnerships, asserting that, as the world’s fifth-largest economy, the country must adopt a wider approach to secure its future fuel requirements. Speaking at a media event on Saturday, he noted that India’s energy strategies now encompass fossil fuels, large-scale renewables, and innovative options like small modular reactors.
Jaishankar also addressed the broader international landscape, pointing out that after decades of advocating globalisation, the world is now grappling with industrial policies, export controls, and trade wars. In this environment, he stressed, India has adopted a pragmatic stance in matters of trade and energy, referencing the nation’s recent decision to import oil from Russia despite criticism from some Western quarters.
“A large economy like India needs an overall strategy,” he said, highlighting the ability to balance relations with Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Iran, as well as with the democratic West, BRICS, and the QUAD. Jaishankar described the current scenario as one demanding “reglobalisation” — a fairer, more democratic framework that mitigates risk in supply chains while boosting trade, innovation, and technology.
On the diplomatic front, the external affairs minister noted that Indian embassies are now more proactive in advancing the country’s commercial interests, providing businesses with information, advice, and other forms of support. He further remarked on the digital era’s need for secure data sourcing and collaboration, urging a balance between market logic and the imperatives of privacy and security in the face of rapid technological advances like Artificial Intelligence.
