Jaishankar highlights that conflict situations in the Gulf and the Mediterranean region impact several countries, including India, in terms of cost escalation for oil and fertilisers
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar who arrived in Qatar on Friday to participate in the Doha Forum on Saturday called for a more innovative and participative diplomacy. He said the general sort of the needle is moving more towards the reality of a negotiation than the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine war.
 
Visiting Qatar at the invitation of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of State of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Dr Jaishankar, while participating at the 22nd edition of the Doha Forum, highlighted the ongoing conflict in the West Asian region and its impact on several countries, including India.
 
He said in the Mediterranean countries alone about half-a-million Indians live, while the two-way trade between India and the countries of the region is around $80 billion. “But that is the Mediterranean,” he said.
 
Separately, about 10 million Indians live in the Gulf region with which India has $180 billion worth of trade, Dr Jaishankar said. He added that conflict in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria has its impact on the stability of the region and it has consequences for India too in terms of cost escalation for oil, fertilisers, and shipping.
 
During the second leg of the visit, EAM will travel to Bahrain on December 8-9, 2024, where he will co-chair the 4th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) with Foreign Minister of Bahrain Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

This Ministerial Meeting will review the entire gamut of the bilateral relations and discuss avenues to further strengthen the multifaceted ties between India and Bahrain.
 
EAM Dr Jaishankar will also participate in the 20th edition of IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on December 8. The theme of this year’s Manama Dialogue is “Middle East leadership in shaping regional prosperity and security.”