“Bharat First” and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) will be the two guiding axioms of India’s foreign policy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday. He further said that the focus of the new government will be to position India as a “Vishwa Bandhu” (friend of the world) in a turbulent and divided world facing conflicts and tensions.

“Looking ahead, definitely, I think the two axioms that the Prime Minister has given us – Bharat First and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – will be the two guiding axioms of Indian foreign policy,” the EAM was quoted as saying by PTI.

“Together, we are very confident it will position us as ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ …. in a very turbulent world, in a very divided world, a world of conflicts and tensions,” he further said.

“It would actually position us as a country which is trusted by many, whose prestige and influence will grow, whose interests will be advanced,” Jaishankar added.

“It is for me an immense honour, a very great privilege to be once again given the responsibility of leading the Ministry of External Affairs. You all know that in the last term, this ministry actually performed exceptionally well,” Jaishankar said. “It rose to many challenges. We delivered where the G20 presidency was concerned.”

Further, he highlighted the importance of India’s “Neighborhood First” policy and said, “All our neighbours came (to the swearing-in) and the Prime Minister himself met all of them. I can tell you, they are leaving with a sense that our neighbouring relationships will be the first priority and will be the overriding priority of the Modi government.”