India-Indonesia get closer as S. Jaishankar wins heart of Indonesia's President at G20 Summit
During the recent G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, there was a moment that touched people's hearts when it came to India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, and Indonesia's newly elected President, Prabowo Subianto. In their first-ever bilateral meeting, President Subianto revealed admiration for Jaishankar's international repute by saying, "I know you, you are very famous." This interaction particularly portrayed Jaishankar's influence on the global level, especially with regards to India's foreign policy.
The discussion on the agenda at the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Subianto highlighted strengthening India-Indonesia relations, discussing trade, commerce, health security, among other topics of interest. Both heads of state emphasized expanding their cooperation in all sectors to develop bilateral relations between both nations.
It is the first time that President Subianto, who was sworn in as the eighth President of Indonesia in October 2024, attended the G20 summit after taking on his duties as Indonesia's President. PM Modi, who was accompanied to the summit by Foreign Minister Jaishankar, was having productive discussions about the potential for growth and development in India-Indonesia relations with Subianto. Discussions like these come at the right time when the world is looking to strengthen ties in the wake of geopolitical shifts and emerging global challenges.
Besides the bilateral engagements between Modi and Subianto, was another crucial meeting that happened between Jaishankar and the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The side meeting was important as this was the first meeting between the two ministers since the border deal between India and China. The talk centered on the softening of tensions on the border besides global issues that called for cooperation between the two superpowers.
Through G20, India has emerged as a nation with strong diplomatic muscles; international diplomacy is an area that S. Jaishankar forges so well that the world watches him closely-kept virtues that he has honed in this field of international diplomacy that keeps earning him plaudits and respect at the global levels.
