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Jaishankar calls US and EU “unfair” for singling out India over Ukraine, warns Poland on terrorism support, and hints at deeper trade and defence ties. Could India’s next moves reshape its global alliances?
Jaishankar on Monday also called for deeper relations between India and Poland
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday criticised the United States and the European Union for “selectively targeting” India over its stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, calling such criticism “unfair and unjustified.”
He made the remarks during delegation-level talks with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who is on an official visit to India.
Jaishankar emphasised that India has consistently shared its position on the Ukraine war in global forums, including at New York last September and Paris earlier this January. “While doing so, I have repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today,” he stated.
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The minister’s remarks come amid rising global scrutiny of India’s procurement of Russian crude, a move criticised particularly by the US, which has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports from America.
During the discussions, Jaishankar also urged Poland to exercise caution regarding any direct or indirect support to Pakistan, highlighting India’s long-standing challenges with cross-border terrorism. “Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood,” he said.
Responding to this, Sikorski expressed agreement on the need to counter transnational terrorism. He highlighted Poland’s own experiences, mentioning recent attacks, including one on a Polish train, as examples of state-targeted violence.
The leaders also discussed the US-imposed tariffs, with Sikorski acknowledging the disruption caused by Trump’s tariffs on Indian exports.
“We completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting, by tariffs. We fear this could progress to global trade turbulence,” he said. Sikorski also praised India’s expanding diplomatic engagement in Europe, noting the establishment of new embassies.
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Jaishankar highlighted opportunities for deeper cooperation between India and Poland, focusing on trade and investment, defence, security, clean technologies, and digital innovation. “India's strong economic growth, size of its market, and pro-investment policies provide immense opportunities for Polish businesses. We will also explore promoting deeper cultural and people-to-people ties,” he said.
The talks underscored India’s commitment to defending its national interests while strengthening strategic and economic relations with key European partners.
