Ex- Ambassador Of Denmark Freddie Svane Exclusive Interview On India-NORDIC SUMMIT | Watch

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]Ambassador Freddy Swain, welcome to Times Now. And it's a big moment coming up. The Indian Nordic Summit. You played a very important part last time when it was held at Copenhagen and you were in the Danish Ambassador to India. To New Delhi. Now, you remember what happened last time and once again, there is this summit.

[00:00:28]Tell us, what are your expectations and what forward movement do you expect?

[00:00:37]Thank you very much, my dear friend Shrinoy. It's always a pleasure being at your channel and thank you for asking very pertinent questions. This is upcoming third summit between India and the five Nordic countries and if Prime Ministers, Honorable Prime Minister of India and the five of the Nordic countries will meet to take the strategic partnership that has evolved since both the first meeting in Stockholm, secondly in 2022 in Denmark and now in Norway. So, the hope is that the momentum already shaping will be taken to the next level due to geopolitics, but more importantly also due to the fact that India and the Nordics are really aligned when it comes to green transition and how to secure that we can have a far better sustainable development. Also given what India is looking for and the Nordics combined will be a like a G10 or G12 economic power, innovation power and we can be a partner, strategic partner and a source of inspiration to India in India's endeavor to reach Viksit Bharat.

[00:01:59]Yes, of course. Uh the Nordic countries are very far away.

[00:02:04]But, we live in one world.

[00:02:07]And that world is affected by climate change. Now, the Nordics have technologies that they have worked on, and some of them can help to fight climate change. Do you see joint development or in that area? And also, largely speaking, the field of innovation.

[00:02:30]Thank you very much. Of course, I see a very, very important strategic movement that can be taken from nice statements, nice diplomatically polished words into actions. As you rightly say, the climate changes are imminent everywhere. You see it in India. You have the third pole, the ice in the Himalayan mountains. It's melting. The Nordics part of the of the Arctic, but also part of the northern part of Europe. We see and feel each and every day the changing climate patterns. And Denmark being a kingdom, we also have Greenland as part of the kingdom. And there we have the world's largest island with an ice cap, and that's melting at an alarmingly high speed. And if the ice cap in Greenland is melting as it does these days, then it will have a direct impact on the monsoon pattern in India. Therefore, we need to work together. And the Nordics, who have been frontrunners in developing green technologies, whether it's for wind, solar, hybrid, or green hydrogen even, we have a lot to offer. But, we are not telling India just to take it.

[00:03:57]We would like to be a source of inspiration. So, whatever India can use for its green transition and the fight against climate, we stand ready and it's so important.

[00:04:10]Also, it's an economic issue lots of economic issues will be on the agenda this time. And India hopes that Nordic countries which have advantages in many areas and strengths in many areas will invest in India. Do you see that happening?

[00:04:31]Yes, I have already seen it happening.

[00:04:34]When I was the ambassador to your great nation, I was of course personally involved in many of these things and I see a growing interest also among of course the big companies, but also the niche small companies in all the Nordic countries. They would like to be part of India's the site trajectory towards a more green and sustainable future. So, innovation from the Nordics are very, very important and I see the Nordics as a technology provider to India. So, that's that's really important.

[00:05:11]On top of that, when it comes to economy and trade, we have also seen that the EFTA countries which are Norway and Iceland, they have together with other EFTA countries, they have signed a deal with India that will allow for free trade and so forth. So, very important part of that. And then the Nordic countries being member of the European Union, we are part of the EU India free trade agreement, which hopefully will come into effect later this year, uh, whenever the European Parliament has approved it, which I think will happen in September. So, India and the Nordics are bound together through innovation, through shared values in the sense that we like to fight the climate changes. We like to improve the livelihood of people, and then, uh, creating a far better framework for exchange of goods and services. But, it's not just a question of the marketplace. It's about investing in a joint sustainable future. And that's going to be the most important part of the upcoming summit.

[00:06:29]You mentioned Greenland, and there has been some talk about Greenland, uh, even uh, even offers to buy Greenland. You've come across that in recent months. Now, is that issue, uh, going to even come up during the discussions? Because Denmark has, of course, made it very clear it has no wish to sell Greenland to anybody.

[00:06:54]I What we have to keep in mind is that this upcoming summit, uh, is, uh, not the Kingdom of Denmark participating, but the, uh, the Denmark. So, it's for Denmark, and, uh, Greenland is, of course, part of the Kingdom, but they are not part of the summit. Uh, so, I don't see this will come up in any way.

[00:07:16]What could come up potentially is, of course, um, India has expressed a very strong interest over the years, um, taking up a more specific role in the Arctic and in Greenland. You have some research work, uh, going on in Greenland, and India is, by the way, also an observer to the Arctic Council.

[00:07:36]So, but I don't expect and that would be a little bit, uh, strange if, uh, this offer, this, uh, threat from President Trump should be on the table. I don't think so.

[00:07:49]The other issue of course that is worrying much of Europe and also the Nordic countries, which is why two of these countries which were neutral for all these years have joined NATO is the the war between Ukraine and Russia. Now you have seen Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who you know quite well, telling President Trump that look, this is not the time for war. The 21st century is not a time for war.

[00:08:20]Now surely the Ukraine war will be part of these discussions because you're not just looking at environment and innovation and economy, but also the strategic perspective perspectives will also be there.

[00:08:35]Obviously geopolitics, the geopolitical issues that we are facing and you mentioned it very clearly and rightly so, the Ukraine Russia war.

[00:08:47]That will definitely be be part of the discussion. How is the geopolitical situation evolving? What can we do jointly and so forth? Not that it will imply that India is moving towards the camp of Ukraine. India and your honorable Prime Minister has repeatedly said this is not an era of war, is an era of peace. And I think we should be inspired by that. You also have Iran, which is much closer to you, which is also causing a lot of troubles and have a very negative impact on people's daily life. And we saw your honorable Prime Minister yesterday announcing India first. You should really contribute. And I think it's It's that we all take part in what can be done in order to cope with the big big challenges that we are facing. So, I'm pretty sure that Narendra Modi, your honorable Prime Minister, and the Nordic Prime Ministers will have a free-wheeling discussion about what is the geopolitical challenges and how can the Indo-Nordic block play a role? Of course, in full respect of where you are, and India has a very strong principle which I adhere to and I admire, strategic independence. So, but you have to discuss it. How can we contribute one way or another?

[00:10:16]Thank you very much, Ambassador Svan. It was always a pleasure speaking with you.

[00:10:23]I wish you all the best and thank you very much for reaching out. It's good to hear such a clear distinct voice from Vikram Doraiswami.

[00:10:31]All the best. Dhanyawad.

[00:10:33]Thank you.