India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar engaged in a series of high-level discussions during his visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the inaugural India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
On Monday, Jaishankar held a “useful conversation” with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the GCC gathering, highlighting the ongoing dialogue between the two countries. Both Jaishankar and Lavrov confirmed the meeting on social media, underscoring its importance.
Jaishankar also met with his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to discuss key global issues. The conversation touched upon the G20 agenda, BRICS cooperation, and the ongoing Ukraine conflict, demonstrating the shared priorities and concerns of these nations.
Prior to these meetings, Jaishankar arrived in Riyadh on Sunday, where he was warmly welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs, Abdulmajeed Al Smari. In his arrival statement, Jaishankar emphasized the significance of the first India-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, acknowledging the deep and multifaceted relationship between India and the GCC nations.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the importance of the GCC region as a major trading partner for India and home to a large Indian expatriate community. The Foreign Ministers’ meeting aimed to review and deepen institutional cooperation between India and the GCC across various sectors.
Following his engagement in Riyadh, Jaishankar is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to Germany, starting on September 10th. This will be his first bilateral visit to Berlin, marking another crucial step in India’s diplomatic efforts on the global stage.
