India, Portugal exchange views on West Asia conflict during Jaishankar-Rangel call

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held a conversation with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel , during which the two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in West Asia and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Portugal .

Sharing details of the discussion, Jaishankar said on social media platform X that the interaction covered both the evolving regional situation and the broader scope of collaboration between the two countries.

“ A good conversation this evening with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel. Exchanged views on the West Asia conflict and also spoke about further strengthening bilateral cooperation, ” Jaishankar wrote.

The diplomatic exchange comes at a time when tensions in West Asia and the Gulf region continue to draw global attention, with several countries closely monitoring the developments and urging restraint.

Over the past month, Jaishankar has been actively engaging with foreign ministers and diplomatic counterparts from multiple nations , discussing the implications of the conflict and exploring ways to support stability in the region through coordinated international efforts.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday reiterated that India remains closely engaged with the evolving situation. Officials stressed that New Delhi continues to emphasise restraint, de-escalation, and diplomatic dialogue as the most effective path to restoring peace.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely tracking the developments in the Gulf and West Asia region and maintaining regular communication with global partners.

“We continue to call for restraint and de-escalation , and at the same time emphasise dialogue and diplomacy as the means for achieving an early end to the conflict,” Jaiswal said.

India has traditionally maintained strong ties with countries across the West Asia region , which is home to a large Indian diaspora and is also vital for the country’s energy security and trade links . As the conflict unfolds, New Delhi’s diplomatic outreach reflects its effort to support stability while coordinating with international partners on the evolving situation.