External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Friday (local time) on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC). The two leaders discussed strengthening India-Germany bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine.
Jaishankar shared details of the meeting in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Pleased to meet Defence Minister Boris Pistorius of Germany. Our talk revolved around bilateral cooperation and the Ukraine development.”
Pistorius also commented on the discussion, emphasizing Germany’s growing partnership with India. He posted on X, “Good and insightful conversation with Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar at #MSC2024. India is an important partner with whom we will further expand our security and defense cooperation.”
Munich Security Conference: A Key Global Platform
The 61st Munich Security Conference, held from February 14-16, serves as a crucial forum for international leaders to discuss global security challenges. The event brings together policymakers, defense experts, and diplomats to address pressing geopolitical issues, including conflicts, security policies, and democratic resilience.
Minister Jaishankar Highlights India’s Democratic Strength
Apart from diplomatic engagements, Minister Jaishankar participated in a panel discussion titled ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience’. The session featured prominent global leaders, including Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, US Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.
During the discussion, the Foreign Minister underscored India’s strong democratic framework, highlighting the country’s electoral success and high voter participation. He pointed to India’s recent elections in Delhi and the 2024 parliamentary elections as examples of a vibrant and functioning democracy.
“India’s Democracy Has Delivered”
Expressing optimism about India’s democratic system, Dr. Jaishankar remarked, “I appeared to be optimist in what is relatively a pessimistic panel, if not room. I will begin by sticking up my finger and don’t take it badly, it is the index finger. This, the mark you see on my nail, is a mark of a person who has just voted.”
He also highlighted India’s massive electoral scale, stating that approximately 700 million people voted in the last national election, out of an electorate of 900 million. Stressing the credibility and efficiency of India’s electoral process, he said, “Nobody disputes the result after it’s announced… 20 per cent more people vote today than they did decades ago.”
Democracy as a Global Debate
Dr. Jaishankar pushed back against concerns about democratic decline worldwide, asserting that India remains a thriving democracy. “So, the first message is that somehow democracy is in trouble globally, worldwide, I am sorry, I have to differ with it. I mean, right now, we are living well. We are voting well. We are optimistic about the direction of our democracy and for us democracy has actually delivered,” he stated. He also emphasized India’s commitment to social welfare, mentioning that the country provides nutrition support to 800 million people.
While acknowledging that democracy faces challenges in some regions, he reaffirmed that India’s democratic model continues to function effectively. As the Munich Security Conference continues, discussions on geopolitical shifts, security concerns, and democratic governance remain central, with India positioning itself as a key voice in the global dialogue.
