New Delhi, Sep 2026 : Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Xavier Bettel on Monday emphasised the importance of maintaining “trusted and honest” relations with India, while praising the country’s leadership for what he described as its efficiency in delivering on political commitments.
Addressing a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, Bettel spoke about the steady strengthening of ties between Luxembourg and India and reflected on his long experience in government. He said both countries had made significant efforts over the years to deepen their bilateral relationship.
Bettel, who is in his 13th year in government, highlighted the importance of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Referring to the geographical reality that countries cannot choose their neighbours but can choose their friends, he said his presence in India was a reflection of the friendship between Luxembourg and India.
He also recalled his earlier association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when Bettel served as Luxembourg’s Prime Minister. He expressed appreciation for India’s democratic system and credited the country’s leadership with supporting dialogue and efforts to build bridges between nations.
“I was very lucky also to have good relations before, when I was Prime Minister, with your Prime Minister,” Bettel said, while thanking the Indian leadership for its commitment to democracy and engagement.
The Luxembourg Foreign Minister also praised Prime Minister Modi’s approach to implementing political commitments, citing cooperation between India and Luxembourg during the Covid-19 pandemic as an example.
Bettel said he had been impressed by the speed with which India acted on commitments made during joint projects at the time. He contrasted this with what he described as the more prolonged discussions that can sometimes follow political commitments in Europe.
According to Bettel, when Prime Minister Modi made a commitment during the pandemic, it was followed by swift action. He said the experience demonstrated what he viewed as the efficiency of India’s political leadership in translating decisions into implementation.
The Luxembourg leader also conveyed his greetings to India on its 80th Independence Day, which was celebrated last month.
Bettel further underlined the importance of maintaining a pragmatic approach while addressing international challenges and conflicts. He argued that countries seeking to build bridges should focus on practical solutions rather than viewing engagement as taking sides against another country.
He said building bridges between nations should ultimately be about serving people and finding ways to address disputes through dialogue and practical engagement.
“Some of the countries do not understand that when you want to build bridges, it is important to be pragmatic,” Bettel said, adding that such an approach should not be interpreted as being against anyone but rather as being “in favour of people.”
He expressed hope that India would continue to demonstrate the same level of efficiency and engagement in addressing international conflicts and challenges.
Bettel’s remarks came as India and Luxembourg continue efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple areas. His emphasis on trust, honesty, pragmatism and political delivery underscored the importance Luxembourg attaches to its relationship with India.
The visit and the joint interaction with Jaishankar also highlighted the growing political engagement between the two countries, with both sides looking to further deepen their partnership in the years ahead.
