New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Swiss President Guy Parmelin on Monday. The meeting took place during Parmelin’s State Visit to India. It shows how active the diplomatic schedule is in the capital these days.
Jaishankar shared his thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter. He said he appreciated Parmelin’s comments about strengthening ties, between India and Switzerland. He also highlighted the potential of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement or TEPA. This agreement connects India with the European Free Trade Association and Switzerland is one of its member countries.
Pleased to call on President Guy Parmelin @ParmelinG of the Swiss Confederation, visiting India on a State Visit.
Deeply appreciate President Parmelin’s sentiments towards deepening our partnership, building on the promise of India – EFTA TEPA.
Confident that his meeting with PM @narendramodi will further our engagement across a wide range of domains.
🇮🇳 🇨🇭
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 5, 2026
He also added that he was confident Parmelin’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi would advance engagement across a wide range of areas. No details of that meeting were available at the time of writing.
The Swiss visit follows a weekend of events. On Sunday Jaishankar spoke at the opening session of the Munich Leaders Meeting 2026. The event is taking place in New Delhi. Is part of the Munich Security Conference. Earlier he met with diplomats who were attending the Raisina Forum for the Future of Diplomacy 2026.
By his account, the conversation covered a broad range of subjects. He pointed to India’s widening global presence through trade, development and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief partnerships. He also discussed the rise of a global workforce and the greater mobility of skilled professionals, along with the responsibility that places on governments for diaspora welfare, seafarers included.
Delighted to interact with the young diplomats participating in the Raisina Forum for Future of Diplomacy 2026.
Discussed among other things :
➡️ 🇮🇳’s growing global footprint characterised by our growing trade, development and HADR partnerships.
➡️ The rise of a global workforce and greater mobility of skilled professionals. And the growing responsibilities for ensuring diaspora welfare, including of seafarers.
➡️ The imperative of strategic autonomy for countries to deal with the contemporary global landscape.
➡️ The emerging nature of India – Africa partnership characterised by greater technology, capabilities and experiential transfer.
➡️ India’s initiatives toward promoting peace, though peacekeeping and its advocacy for dialogue & diplomacy.
➡️ Challenges of conducting foreign policy in the social media era.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 4, 2026
Strategic autonomy was another theme. Jaishankar described it as essential for countries navigating the current global landscape. On Africa, he said the partnership with India is increasingly defined by the transfer of technology, capabilities and experience. He also referred to India’s peacekeeping contributions and its advocacy of dialogue and diplomacy.
The final topic he listed was a practical one for any foreign ministry: the difficulty of conducting foreign policy in the age of social media.
Taken together, the week shows India using its own platforms, from the Raisina Forum to a Munich-branded leaders’ meeting on Indian soil, while hosting a head of state whose country has a freshly implemented trade pact with it. Whether the Parmelin-Modi talks produce concrete announcements remains to be seen.
