'Friendships Are Not Exclusive In A Multipolar World': Jaishankar As India Moves Forward

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has said that as India is moving towards becoming a leing power, our presence in world order today also attracts competition ding even friendships will t t be without some hedging, or exclusive particularly in a multipolar world.

Speaking at a book launch event in Delhi, EAM S Jaishankar said, “Wher it is our actual capability or potential, our presence in world order today also attracts competition. As we move towards becoming a leing power, this will only grow. Even friendships will t be without some hedging. Relating to or major powers is also a challenge in itself.”

“ more global y are, broer ir range of activities and interests. Some may converge more, some less so, and at times, in fact, some may even diverge,” he said.

“Sometimes friends have or friends who may t necessarily be ours. y may, for example, reflect dilemmas of old order and new. It is refore essential that we never confuse convergence for congruence. Friendships are also t exclusive, particularly so in a multipolar world,” Jaishankar ded.

“It is only to be expected that ors, even friends, will seek to maintain ir options while restricting ours. You will from time to time hear that our contemporary realism is projected as some kind of inherited dogmatism. Believe me, this is really a mind game at work,” Jaishankar ded.