External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to visit France and Belgium from June 8th to 14th. The primary focus of his trip will be to bolster bilateral relations and to highlight India’s firm stance against terrorism. Jaishankar will engage with his counterparts in France and Belgium, along with key figures from the European Union. A significant event will be the inaugural ministerial strategic dialogue with EU Foreign and Security Policy Chief Kaja Kallas. In France, the minister will participate in discussions in Paris and Marseille, including talks with French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot and participation in the Mediterranean Raisina Dialogue. The visit will offer an opportunity to brief interlocutors on India’s actions against terror infrastructure and the country’s evolving counter-terrorism strategy. Discussions will also cover the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France. In Brussels, Jaishankar will hold strategic talks with EU leaders, including Kaja Kallas, along with meetings with the European Commission, European Parliament, and think tanks. The visit aims to strengthen ties and enhance cooperation across various sectors, building on the momentum of the India-EU strategic partnership, including the goal of finalizing a free trade agreement by the year’s end. In Belgium, Jaishankar will hold bilateral consultations with Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot. The trip aims to deepen ties with the EU, France, and Belgium, and invigorate ongoing collaborations.
