Paris: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné in Paris on Wednesday for a round of bilateral consultations, reaffirming the depth of the India–France strategic partnership. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said it was a pleasure to be in Paris and noted that France remains one of India’s oldest strategic partners and the first in Europe to build such a relationship with New Delhi.
Jaishankar underlined that the discussions were taking place against the backdrop of a volatile international environment. He said that in periods of global uncertainty, it is natural for close partners to stay in frequent contact and make full use of existing institutional mechanisms across multiple sectors. He added that both sides had already held a productive exchange of views on regional and international developments and expressed confidence that the bilateral session would advance co-operation under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap and potentially generate fresh ideas.
The minister stressed that India and France continue to collaborate actively on the global stage, pointing out that both governments led major platforms this year, with India chairing BRICS and France presiding over the G7. He also highlighted their shared membership of the G20 and engagement in numerous multilateral organisations, according to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry. Jaishankar said that as nations committed to a multipolar world, working together was essential not only to serve national interests but also to contribute to stability in international politics.
Meanwhile, Jaishankar took part in the Weimar Format engagement in Paris, marking India’s first participation in the dialogue that brings together France, Germany, and Poland. The meeting, hosted by Barrot, also included German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. Jaishankar thanked the three ministers for the invitation and described the interaction as open, substantive, and wide-ranging.
At the Weimar Format meeting, Jaishankar said the consultations centred on three key themes: India–European Union relations, the Indo-Pacific region, and the conflict in Ukraine. He highlighted India’s deepening engagement with Europe, both through the EU collectively and through individual member states. As co-operation broadens, he said it was natural for smaller group formats like Weimar to supplement larger platforms.
