External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar concluded a successful two-day official visit to the Netherlands from May 19 to 20, reaffirming the deepening strategic partnership between India and the European nation. The visit saw high-level engagements with Dutch leadership and discussions aimed at enhancing collaboration across a wide spectrum of sectors, including trade, defence, and cutting-edge technologies.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday, Dr Jaishankar held meetings with Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, and Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp. The two sides welcomed the growing strategic convergence between India and the Netherlands and committed to further bolstering bilateral relations through continued high-level visits and exchanges.
"EAM conveyed India’s appreciation for the statement of solidarity from the Netherlands in the fight against terrorism," the MEA noted, highlighting shared security concerns as a key pillar of cooperation.
During his meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, Jaishankar conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. The discussions emphasised ongoing progress in multiple areas such as trade and economy, science and technology, water management, agriculture, health, education, culture, and people-to-people connections.
The two ministers also explored expanding cooperation in emerging domains like digital technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and green hydrogen—areas seen as critical to sustainable economic growth and innovation.
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In addition to diplomatic and economic dialogue, Jaishankar met with Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans to discuss advancing defence and security cooperation between the two countries. Both sides agreed to further strengthen defence ties, laying the groundwork for deeper strategic engagement in the future.
The MEA further noted that Jaishankar engaged with leading international affairs and strategic experts from prominent Dutch think tanks. In these interactions, the EAM emphasised the importance of deeper India-Netherlands and India-EU engagement in the context of a shifting global order marked by multipolarity and strategic autonomy.
As part of his outreach during the visit, Jaishankar also met with members of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands, acknowledging their role in nurturing bilateral ties and cultural exchanges. The ministry underscored that Jaishankar’s visit, which closely follows Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp’s trip to India in April, is a reflection of the mutual commitment to regular and sustained diplomatic engagement.
“EAM’s visit has significantly contributed to the further deepening of India-Netherlands bilateral relations,” the MEA stated. Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to the Netherlands is part of a broader official tour of Europe, which also includes Denmark and Germany, from May 19 to 24.
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