MANILA, Jul 23: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a series of high-level diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Manila on Thursday, discussing the evolving security environment in West Asia, strengthening bilateral partnerships and expanding India’s strategic outreach across the Indo-Pacific.
One of the key meetings was with Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, where both leaders exchanged views on the rapidly changing geopolitical situation in the Gulf and the broader West Asian region. The discussions took place against the backdrop of heightened military tensions involving the United States and Iran, raising concerns over regional stability and energy security.
Sharing details of the meeting on social media, Jaishankar said he appreciated the opportunity to interact with his Omani counterpart and that both sides exchanged perspectives on recent developments in the Gulf. He added that India and Oman agreed to remain in close contact as the regional situation continues to evolve.
Al Busaidi also described the interaction as productive, noting that both ministers discussed the changing regional landscape and underlined the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement to address shared challenges and maintain stability.
Meeting with Philippines President
During his visit, Jaishankar also called on Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., conveying greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties under the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership.
The External Affairs Minister expressed India’s support for the Philippines’ successful chairship of ASEAN and highlighted the implementation of the India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025–2029, which aims to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, defence, maritime security and emerging technologies.
Strengthening India-Netherlands Cooperation
Jaishankar also met Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, reviewing progress made following Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the Netherlands. Both leaders discussed advancing the newly elevated Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
The discussions focused on expanding collaboration in priority sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, water management, green hydrogen, healthcare, innovation and cultural exchanges, reflecting the growing depth of India-Netherlands relations.
Engagement with Papua New Guinea
In another significant meeting, Jaishankar held talks with Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin W. Tkatchenko, reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting Pacific Island nations through development partnerships and capacity-building initiatives.
The two leaders reviewed cooperation under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and discussed opportunities to enhance collaboration in areas such as maritime security, sustainable development and human resource development.
Jaishankar reiterated India’s readiness to work closely with Pacific Island countries in addressing their developmental priorities while promoting regional security.
Talks with Brunei on Emerging Technologies
Jaishankar’s diplomatic engagements also included a meeting with Brunei Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Mateen, whom he congratulated on assuming office.
The discussions centred on expanding bilateral cooperation in rapidly advancing sectors, including artificial intelligence, drones, digital technology and innovation. Both leaders also agreed to further strengthen collaboration under India’s Act East Policy while enhancing multilateral cooperation through ASEAN mechanisms.
India-UK Strategic Partnership
On the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings, Jaishankar also met UK Foreign Secretary Edward Miliband for their first official interaction.
The two ministers reviewed the positive momentum generated by the implementation of the recently concluded India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and agreed to continue efforts towards strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Support for Palestinian Humanitarian Efforts
Jaishankar also met Christian Saunders, Interim Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The discussion focused on India’s humanitarian assistance and commitments announced during the recent Donors Conference, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education and capacity building for Palestinian communities.
Multiple Bilateral Interactions
Besides these meetings, Jaishankar interacted with several other international leaders, including European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, reflecting India’s active diplomatic engagement with regional and global partners.
The wide-ranging meetings underscored New Delhi’s efforts to reinforce strategic partnerships, promote regional stability and strengthen cooperation across the Indo-Pacific amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
As one of ASEAN’s key dialogue partners, India continues to deepen engagement with Southeast Asian nations while broadening collaboration with major global stakeholders in areas ranging from security and trade to technology and sustainable development.