New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel on their National Day and expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1932454087813189936

Sharing a post on X, he wrote, 'Congratulations to FM @PauloRangel_pt, the Government and people of Portugal on their National Day. Will continue efforts to strengthen our bilateral partnership and EU engagements.'

Currently, Jaishankar is on an official visit to France, the European Union (EU), and Belgium from June 8 to 14, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs announced in a press release on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Vice President Kaja Kallas held the first EU-India Strategic Dialogue with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, where he expressed India's support for concluding an 'ambitious and balanced' Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union.

During Tuesday's joint press conference with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, Jaishankar called India and the EU 'two important forces of that emerging reality' and stressed the powerful case for forging deeper ties.

He said, 'It's a great pleasure to be back in Brussels and join High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas for the first strategic dialogue between India and the European Union. I believe we've had a very open and productive meeting today, and it is still continuing.'

Jaishankar's visit to Brussels comes three months after Princess Astrid of Belgium led a 300-member economic mission to India. The recent visit by Princess Astrid, who met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar, discussed key areas such as labour migration, pharmaceuticals, defence, diamonds, space exploration, and green energy

Interestingly, Jaishankar's visit coincides with the detention of fugitive Indian diamantaire Mehul Choksi in a Belgian jail. Choksi, accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank of Rs 13,850 crore, was arrested in mid-April on India's extradition request. India has an extradition treaty with Belgium, and the government is likely to pursue Choksi's extradition during the EAM's visit. (ANI)