Jaishankar held extensive discussions with his Dutch counterparts to deepen bilateral partnerships

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp in The Hague on May 19, 2025 | Photo source: ANI

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp on 19 May 2025 (19 May 2025) and had extensive discussions on deepening bilateral partnerships and engaging in the EU.

Mr. Jaishankar also brought him to Denmark and Germany in the first round of the Tri-Nation trip to The Hague, and he praised the Netherlands for its strong condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and its support for zero tolerance for terrorism.

This is the first foreign visit by Mr Jaishankar after a four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistani armed forces.

“Thanks to FM Caspar Veldkamp @ministerbz of the Netherlands for hosting me in The Hague today. Appreciate the Netherlands’ strong condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. Support for zero tolerance of terrorism. Tolerance for zero tolerance. More and more related to our bilateral partnerships and exchanges with the EU have crossed one more and more efficiency. On X.

The minister also met with Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans and expressed his views on their respective security perspectives and challenges.

“Today we met with Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans in The Hague. We expressed our views on our respective security perspectives and challenges. We also talked about the benefits of establishing a bilateral defensive partnership.”

In the early hours, Mr Jaishankar said there was a “good exchange” with strategic experts, during which they also discussed why India and the Netherlands/EU should be more deeply involved in the era of multipolarity and strategic autonomy.

In an article on X, the Indian Embassy in The Hague said that the minister’s visit will further promote Indian-Holland ties.

During his visit, Mr. Jaishankar will reach leadership with the leadership of these three countries and conduct discussions with his peers on the entire scope of bilateral relations and on regional and global matters in common interests.

Mr Jaishankar is expected to learn from his peers in three countries about India’s decision to launch Sindoor operation following the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

India launched a precise strike on Pakistan’s terrorist infrastructure and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir earlier on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, killing 26 people.

After the Indian operation, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. Indian troops launched a fierce counterattack on several Pakistani military facilities.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 that ended the conflict in a four-day cross-border drone and missile strike.