External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday, 11 June called for a fundamental reshaping of India-Bulgaria relations into a more contemporary and forward-looking partnership, saying both nations share similar political outlooks. The remarks came during a joint press conference in Sofia following his bilateral meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova.

Key Dimensions of the Bilateral Talks

Jaishankar outlined three pillars of the discussions: bilateral cooperation between India and Bulgaria, the broader India-European Union partnership, and the potential for joint action on global issues. 'Our discussions today had three dimensions. First, the bilateral cooperation between India and Bulgaria. Second, the partnership between India and the European Union. And third, what our two countries can do together for the world... That is largely what I came here to discuss,' he said.

On the bilateral front, he acknowledged the depth of existing ties while stressing the need to modernise them. 'Where India-Bulgaria ties are concerned, these are longstanding and very comfortable. Our task is to refashion that into a contemporary and forward-looking relationship. Politically, as our talks confirmed, we share many similar approaches and outlooks,' Jaishankar added.

Modi's Greetings and the Radev Meeting

During the Sofia visit, Jaishankar also called on Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The high-level engagement signals New Delhi's intent to deepen institutional ties with Bulgaria beyond routine diplomatic exchanges.

India-EU Agreements and Global Stability

Jaishankar highlighted a cluster of agreements concluded between India and the European Union in January this year, including a free trade agreement, a security and defence partnership, and a mobility framework. He said these initiatives carry significant potential to enhance bilateral cooperation between India and the EU.

He also addressed the broader global environment, describing it as 'exceptionally volatile and uncertain,' citing multiple major conflicts, economic security concerns, the legacy of the pandemic, and the recurring threat of terrorism. 'We believe that this is not an era of war,' he stated, reiterating India's consistent position. 'The only solution to conflicts is dialogue and diplomacy.'

Supply Chains, Maritime Trade, and the Global South

On economic risks, Jaishankar stressed the importance of supply chain resilience and diversification, and specifically called for unimpeded maritime trade. He also underscored India's advocacy for the Global South, particularly on energy, food, and fertiliser security — issues he said were shared concerns that formed a basis of convergence between New Delhi and Sofia.

Zero Tolerance on Terrorism

Jaishankar called for a firm global consensus on zero tolerance for terrorism, noting that this was among the issues on which India and Bulgaria found common ground. 'The world must be clear on zero tolerance. On all these issues, there was a meeting of the minds between India and Bulgaria,' he said. The visit marks a renewed push by India to strengthen its diplomatic footprint across Central and Eastern Europe ahead of upcoming multilateral engagements.