Grow Out Of Mindset That Europe's Problems Are World's Problems But Not Vice-Versa: EAM S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (3 June) asked European nations to come out of the mindset that European problems are world's problems but world's problems are not Europe's problems.

Speaking at Globesec 22 Bratislava Forum in Slovakia, Jaishankar also slammed the linkages being made between the situation in Ukraine and tension between India and China.

"Somewhere Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world problems and world's problems are not Europe's problems," he said.

Responding to a question on which side India will be on in a future bipolar world led by US and China, Jaishankar said, "This is the construct you are trying to impose on me, and I don't accept it. I don't think its necessary for me to join this axis or not and if I am not joining this I must be with other, I don't accept that," he said.

Jaishankar added that India has one-fifth population of the world and is the fifth or sixth largest global economy.

"I think I am entitle to have my own side, I am entitled to weigh my own interest, make my own choices, and my choices will not be cynical and transactional. But they will be a balance of my values and my interest," the minister said, adding that there is no country in the world which disregards its interests.