India is engaging global partners more intensively, said External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar; cited recent trade deals
- IBEF
- February 18, 2026
The country is taking its foreign diplomacy from a position of strength, said India's External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar. The official was commenting on the latest trade deals negotiated by the country, which were described as signalling a new proactivity in the country's economic diplomacy. Speaking at the Global Economic Cooperation conference, External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar stated that the world was about to enter a volatile period in its history. The official noted that the world was seeing a shift in the lines of geopolitics, the tightening of export controls, and the weaponization of production and finance. Further in the statement, it was mentioned that the expansion of India's trade relations was a deliberate attempt to secure market access, build economic resilience, and address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
The latest developments in India's foreign relations include the United States reducing tariffs on Indian exports from 50% to 18%, following a series of high-level talks. India has also finalized talks on a proposed free trade agreement with the European Union in a bid to boost trade between the two parties. The developments are likely to further strengthen India's position in the global arena, even as the doors for businesses remain open to new markets. The statement noted that the international economic order was in a state of transition. The expansion of India's foreign relations was a deliberate attempt to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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