Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed that military confrontation cannot resolve global disputes and called for a swift end to the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine. The remarks came after his wide-ranging talks with Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, who is on a four-day visit to India.
Addressing the media after the meeting, the Prime Minister said both India and Finland share a common commitment to the rule of law, diplomacy and dialogue as the primary means to resolve global issues.
“India and Finland, both, believe in the rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy. We are in agreement that no issue can be resolved through military conflict alone,” Modi said.
Reiterating India’s position on ongoing global crises, Modi said New Delhi would continue to support all efforts aimed at bringing peace.
“Be it Ukraine or West Asia, we will continue to support the swift end of conflicts and every effort towards peace,” he stated, referring to the ongoing war involving Ukraine and tensions across West Asia.
During the talks, the two leaders also agreed to elevate cooperation between India and Finland in the areas of digitalisation and sustainability to a strategic partnership.
Modi said the partnership would expand collaboration in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, 6G telecommunications, clean energy and quantum computing.
“This partnership, from AI to 6G telecom, from clean energy to quantum computing, will give momentum and energy to our cooperation in many high-tech areas,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of the proposed India–EU free trade agreement, noting that it would strengthen trade, investment and technological cooperation between India and Finland.
President Stubb began his visit to India on Wednesday with the aim of boosting bilateral cooperation across several sectors including trade, investment and critical technology.
Modi’s remarks came amid escalating tensions in the region after Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks on Israeli and American bases early Thursday. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as multiple missiles were reported incoming.
Iranian state television said additional strikes targeted United States military bases, while Israel announced it had begun a “large-scale” military operation in Tehran. Explosions were heard across several parts of the Iranian capital shortly afterwards.
The Israeli military also confirmed targeted attacks in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The tensions intensified following the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by the United States Navy in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday night, an incident that reportedly killed at least 87 Iranian sailors.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the action, describing it as “an atrocity at sea.” In a social media post, he said the vessel, carrying nearly 130 sailors, had been struck in international waters without warning and warned that the United States would “bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
Meanwhile, senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli called the situation a major test for the country and issued a rare and controversial appeal for retaliation during a televised address.
The rapidly escalating situation has heightened international concerns, even as India and several other nations continue to push for diplomatic efforts to restore peace and stability.
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