Jaishankar meets Oman, Netherlands FMs on ASEAN sidelines in Manila
Synopsis
On a single day in Manila, Jaishankar juggled Gulf geopolitics with Oman, semiconductor diplomacy with the Netherlands, Palestinian humanitarian commitments with UNRWA, and ASEAN statecraft with the Philippines president — a snapshot of India's expanding multi-directional foreign policy in a volatile global moment.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar held multiple bilateral meetings in Manila on 23 July on the sidelines of ASEAN -related ministerial meetings.
He met Omani FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to discuss Gulf region developments amid US-Iran tensions.
Talks with Netherlands FM Tom Berendsen followed up on PM Modi's visit and the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership , covering semiconductors , green hydrogen , and water resources .
Jaishankar met UNRWA acting chief Christian Saunders to review India's health and capacity-building commitments for Palestinian refugees.
He attended the 21st East Asia Summit and called on Philippines President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr. , reaffirming India's support for the Philippines' ASEAN chairship .
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of ASEAN-related ministerial gatherings in Manila on Thursday, 23 July, engaging counterparts from Oman and the Netherlands, as well as the interim chief of the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees. The engagements underscore India's active diplomatic posture across Gulf, European, and Southeast Asian theatres simultaneously.
India-Oman Talks Amid Gulf Tensions
Jaishankar met Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to exchange views on recent developments in the Gulf region. The bilateral comes at a sensitive moment, with renewed tensions in West Asia following military exchanges between the United States and Iran.
'Appreciated meeting with FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi of Oman in Manila. Exchanged perspectives on the recent developments in the Gulf region. Agreed to remain in touch,' Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting. Oman has historically served as a back-channel between rival regional powers, making its perspective on Gulf dynamics particularly significant for Indian diplomacy.
Netherlands Strategic Partnership in Focus
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met his Netherlands counterpart Tom Berendsen, following up on outcomes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Netherlands. The two ministers reviewed progress under the newly elevated Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which has opened cooperation tracks in semiconductors, water resources, green hydrogen, health, and culture.
'The elevation of our ties to a Strategic Partnership has opened new avenues of cooperation, including in semiconductors, water resources, green hydrogen, health and culture,' Jaishankar wrote on X. The semiconductor dimension is particularly notable given global supply-chain realignments and India's ambitions to build a domestic chip ecosystem.
UNRWA Meeting on India's Humanitarian Commitments
Jaishankar also met UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) Commissioner-General ad interim Christian Saunders. The discussion centred on India's contributions and commitments made at a recent Donors Conference, particularly in the areas of health and capacity building for Palestinian refugees.
ASEAN Engagements and Philippines Presidential Call
Jaishankar is in Manila on an official visit to participate in Foreign Minister-level meetings under the ASEAN framework. On Thursday morning, he attended the 21st East Asia Summit (EAS) and called on Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., conveying the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's support for the Philippines' chairship of ASEAN.
'India-Philippines cooperation under the aegis of our Strategic Partnership continues to diversify as we implement the India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025–2029,' Jaishankar added on X. The Plan of Action signals a structured, multi-year framework for bilateral engagement that goes beyond traditional trade ties.
Point of View
Netherlands, UNRWA, the Philippines president, and the East Asia Summit all in one day — is not incidental; it reflects a deliberate Indian strategy of using multilateral forums to compress bilateral bandwidth. The Oman meeting is the most geopolitically charged: with US-Iran tensions live, India needs Gulf interlocutors it trusts, and Muscat has long played that role. The Netherlands semiconductor angle is quietly significant — India's chip ambitions depend on European technology partnerships that are still being negotiated. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the UNRWA meeting: India's humanitarian engagement with Palestinian refugees is a balancing act between its traditional Non-Aligned posture and its deepening ties with Israel, and every public commitment at a Donors Conference carries diplomatic weight in both directions.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jaishankar meet the Omani foreign minister in Manila?
Jaishankar met Omani FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to exchange perspectives on recent Gulf region developments, particularly amid heightened US-Iran tensions. Oman is a key diplomatic interlocutor for India in the Gulf, and the meeting signalled continued coordination on regional stability.
What is the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership?
The India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership is an elevated bilateral framework agreed during PM Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Netherlands. It opens new cooperation tracks in semiconductors, water resources, green hydrogen, health, and culture, going beyond the two countries' earlier trade-focused relationship.
What was discussed at Jaishankar's UNRWA meeting?
Jaishankar met UNRWA Commissioner-General ad interim Christian Saunders to review India's contributions and commitments made at a recent Donors Conference, focused on health and capacity-building support for Palestinian refugees.
What is the India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025-2029?
The India-Philippines Plan of Action 2025–2029 is a structured bilateral roadmap under the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership, aimed at diversifying cooperation across multiple sectors over five years. Jaishankar reaffirmed its implementation during his call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Why is Jaishankar in Manila?
EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to the Philippines to participate in Foreign Minister-level meetings under the ASEAN framework, including the 21st East Asia Summit held on 23 July 2025.
