NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s participation in the G7 meetings in France underscored the importance Paris attaches to closely associating India, the current BRICS president, with its G7 presidency, the French government said.
The two-day G7 summit in the seaside town of Biarritz focused heavily on the worsening crisis in the Persian Gulf, with tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalating sharply in recent months. Jaishankar held talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, discussing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and ways to de-escalate the Iran-U.S. standoff.
The participation of the Indian minister, whose country is not a member of the G7 group, reflects France’s efforts to broaden the conversation on global issues beyond the traditional Western powers. As a major regional player with longstanding ties to Iran, India’s voice carries weight in deliberations on the Gulf crisis.
India has walked a delicate diplomatic tightrope on Iran, maintaining relations with Tehran while also honoring U.S. sanctions. New Delhi has repeatedly called for restraint and de-escalation to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control, fearing the consequences for its own regional interests and energy security.
“India’s position is very clear – we want peace and stability in the region,” a senior Indian official told BoseTimes. “We will work with all parties to find a diplomatic solution and prevent an outbreak of hostilities that could have grave repercussions.”
Observers say France’s outreach to India signals an effort to position the European power as a bridge-builder between Washington and Tehran, as the U.S. maximum pressure campaign against Iran appears to be narrowing the space for dialogue. With the Iran nuclear deal hanging by a thread, Paris is seen as trying to leverage its relationships with both sides to find a path forward.
The discussions in Biarritz also touched on other regional flashpoints, including the situation in Kashmir. India will be keen to hear France’s assessment of the fallout from New Delhi’s move to revoke Kashmir’s special status and the potential for renewed unrest in the disputed territory.
