Why Helping The World Made India Stronger’: Jaishankar On Global Trust

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discusses the evolution of India's foreign policy, emphasizing the 'Neighbourhood First' approach and the country's role as 'Vishwamitra'. Speaking on the impact of 'Vaccine Maitri', Jaishankar stated, 'In my entire career... I have never seen anything having a greater emotional impact on the rest of the world than giving vaccines.' He contrasts this with developed nations that stockpiled vaccines up to eight times their population. The minister also highlights how domestic institutions like IIT Madras are being leveraged globally, citing the Tanzania campus as a prime example of Indian diplomacy in action. He asserts that domestic growth and global engagement are not mutually exclusive but must proceed hand in hand to solve problems with limited resources.