New Delhi, May 4, 2025 (ANI): Speaking at Arctic Circle India Forum 2025, EAM Dr S Jaishankar said “"There's a Russia realism that we have advocated...We have always felt that there is a need to engage Russia...I am an advocate of Russia realism and I am also an advocate of America realism. I think the best way to engage today's America is also through finding mutuality of interest rather than putting ideological differences upfront and then allowing it to cloud the possibilities of working together..."
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00:00We are not necessarily taking the case of one party or the other, but we've always felt that there was, you know, international relations is conducted on the basis of some fundamental realism, and that realism requires an engagement with Russia.
00:21And the idea that we have felt always that there is a need to engage Russia. I mean, nobody wants wars. These are, just like I'm an advocate of Russia realism, I'm also an advocate of America realism.
00:39We are not necessarily taking the case of one party or the other, but we've always felt that there was, you know, international relations is conducted on the basis of some fundamental realism, and that realism requires an engagement with Russia.
01:01And the idea that a solution would come above, because if you remember, there was a period when countries were gathering, and everybody was there except Russia, and they were discussing Russia.
01:12So, the idea that you will get a solution out of Russia without inviting Russia challenged, you know, the basics of realism.
01:22So, we have felt always that there is a need to engage Russia. I mean, nobody wants wars. These are, particularly in a very interdependent world, these are mutual, I mean, these are lose-lose situations.
01:40But, I think for us, to engage Russia, and if there is any way we can be of any help, we have always been very open about it.
01:52Having said that, you know, we have also been very careful not to prescribe a solution. We have not told one or the other party, do this or do that, you know.
02:02And that's important to remember, because that's a courtesy which apparently is not always granted to us.
02:07So, we get advice on what we should be doing. So, the point I am making is, yes, it is going to be a challenge from an Arctic Council perspective.
02:20That, I mean, if you look at your own past presidencies, I think there was a two-year Russian presidency in 22, 23, or I forget the year, fairly recently.
02:30You know. So, if you have situations where everything is gridlocked, and then say, well, you know, how do we get a global governance answer?
02:42Answer is, you're not going to get it. And that is what, I mean, it's not just the Arctic Council, it happened in the Security Council as well.
02:50So, I think it's important to get global governance back to work. It is important. We may disagree. I mean, we disagree with some countries, you know.
03:02But because you disagree doesn't mean that, you know, that there is a total breakdown in that sense.
03:11And your answer, Samir, is, yes, when the Quad meets, which it is expected to do later this year, I mean, the Quad is essentially focused around Indo-Pacific.
03:26But, you know, the Indo-Pacific is a very interesting region because it points in different directions.
03:34So, I'm sure, and again, just like I'm an advocate of Russia realism, I'm also an advocate of America realism.
03:42That, you know, I think the best way to engage today's America is also through, you know, finding mutuality of interest rather than putting ideological differences up front.
03:54And then allowing it to cloud the possibilities of working together.