Thiruvananthapuram - S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, emphasized that the West should not be regarded as the "bad guy" for not inundating Asian and African markets with an abundance of goods. He called for a shift away from negative perceptions of the West.
Speaking in an interview with the Malayalam news channel Asianet, Jaishankar clarified that he was not advocating for the West. The interview was conducted by former Indian diplomat T. P. Sreenivasan.
Jaishankar made these remarks while participating in the launch of the PM Vishwakarma scheme in Thiruvananthapuram.
"It is not the West which is flooding Asia and Africa with goods on a massive scale. I think we need to get over the syndrome of the past that the West is the bad guy, and on the other side are the developing countries. The world is more complicated, the problems are much more complicated than that," he stated.
When asked about Chinese President Xi Jinping's absence from the G20 summit in New Delhi and whether it could be linked to a desire to prevent India from being seen as the leader of the Global South, Jaishankar indicated that the reasons behind Xi's absence were a subject of speculation.
He pointed out that over the past decade, there has been a growing sense of resentment and frustration, particularly among developing countries, due to the imbalances created by globalization. Many nations felt that they were reduced to being mere providers of resources for other economies.
He clarified that his statements were not taking sides with the West and noted that today's globalization has a strong emphasis on manufacturing, which is often subsidized, affecting various economies.
Jaishankar also highlighted India's achievements in manufacturing, agriculture, scientific endeavors like the Chandrayaan-3 mission, and its successful vaccination efforts. These accomplishments have fostered a sense of identification and solidarity among the Global South, including the African Union, as they see India as a nation capable of standing, growing, and progressing.