Speaking at the 3rd Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue, EAM Jaishankar added that “the politics of the day apparently creates some reluctance in admitting to that”…reports Asian Lite News.
Pointing out that the Indo-Pacific was a fact of life, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that denying the Indo-Pacific was tantamount to denying globalization.
“Even those who ostensibly have reservations behave and operate in a manner that validates the Indo-Pacific. And that validation, as you all know, is in its very seamlessness and inter-penetration. In truth, everybody is aware that there is a fusion of theatres that were unnaturally separated earlier,” he noted.
Speaking at the 3rd Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue, EAM Jaishankar added that “the politics of the day apparently creates some reluctance in admitting to that”.
“We could all ask why, if the realities were so obvious, that there should be hesitation or more in some quarters from recognizing what is staring us all in the face,” he asked.
“The answer is probably in the mind-set, possibly even in their insecurities. If one is steeped in the ethos of the Cold War and even leveraged it to advantage, it is not easy to accept that others can approach the world very differently. Especially if the objective is to create a wider, more collaborative and more democratic approach to achieve common good,” he explained.
“As globalization advances and becomes more diversified, there will only be a greater appreciation of the inter-dependence and broader footprints that the Indo-Pacific expresses. Given this direction, denying the Indo-Pacific is tantamount to denying globalization,” Jaishankar argued.
In the domain of international relations, it was natural that new concepts take time to be digested, Jaishankar went on to say.
“To facilitate that process, it is also important to show an openness of mind and acceptance that there can be many pathways to approach the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
The 3rd Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue was organized by the Indian Navy in association with the National Maritime Foundation.
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