New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed for an early end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, stating that military action cannot resolve any dispute. Modi made these remarks during a joint press conference in Delhi after bilateral talks with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb.
Modi’s Statement on Peace and Diplomacy
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India and Finland both uphold the rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy. He said, “We agree that only military conflict cannot solve any problem,” highlighting India’s consistent support for peaceful resolutions in global disputes, including in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Escalating Violence in Iran
The conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran has intensified over the past six days. According to Al Jazeera, Israel and the U.S. have carried out over 5,000 bombings in Iran, sinking 20 Iranian warships, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths. Iran has retaliated with strikes on American bases across nine Middle Eastern countries, including additional attacks in Tehran on Wednesday night.
India-Finland Strategic Cooperation
During the bilateral meeting, Modi and President Stubb discussed enhancing trade, investment, and emerging technology cooperation, including AI, 6G telecommunications, clean energy, and quantum computing. Modi noted that collaboration in these high-tech sectors will strengthen India-Finland relations, moving towards a strategic partnership level.
Finland President Stubb’s Remarks
President Alexander Stubb, currently on a four-day India visit, praised India’s foreign policy and economic progress, noting that the world could benefit from being “a little more Indian.” He acknowledged India as the world’s largest democracy and an influential global player, emphasizing India’s role as a strategic partner for Europe. Stubb also highlighted India’s rapid economic growth over the last decade.
Cultural Note
Modi acknowledged Stubb’s personal achievement of completing the Ironman Triathlon, regarded as one of the most difficult single-day sporting events in the world, involving 3.86 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and 42.2 km marathon running.
The meeting took place at Hyderabad House, Delhi, and covered cooperation in digitalization, sustainability, and international trade, including the India-European Free Trade Agreement (FTA) framework.
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