Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the inaugural Partners for Multilateralism Summit on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. He emphasized that the global order is under stress due to growing geopolitical competition, tensions, and conflicts. Jaishankar stressed the need for reforms to make international institutions more participative and transparent. The summit was part of India's diplomatic engagements during the UNGA high-level week.
Jaishankar highlighted the challenges facing the international community, including peace and security, climate action, emerging technologies, and development finance. He cautioned that if these trends remained unchecked, they could undermine the principle of international cooperation. The Minister emphasized that multilateralism must assert itself strongly at this juncture to address these challenges. He also referred to the "four 'F' crisis" of fuel, food, fertilizer, and finance, which cannot be left unaddressed.
The External Affairs Minister underlined the need for practical and targeted responses to ongoing conflicts and global disruptions. He suggested that specific dimensions of conflicts could be addressed while striving for a broader peace. Jaishankar also emphasized the importance of international frameworks responding to emerging technologies and new capabilities. He called for measures to reduce vulnerabilities in global supply chains and encouraged de-risking and diversifying.
Jaishankar stressed that international law, rules, and norms must remain central to the functioning of the multilateral system. He emphasized that countries with shared interests should have the confidence to cooperate where there is a compelling case for collective action. The Minister also called for institutional reform, stating that multilateralism would require greater advocacy as well as stronger implementation.
Jaishankar's engagements during the UNGA high-level week included bilateral and plurilateral meetings. He met Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and discussed the strengthening of India-Switzerland economic ties. The two countries have signed the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement. Jaishankar also met Nauru President David Adeang and highlighted India's development partnership with the Pacific island nation.
The Minister also attended the first Visegrad Group (V4)-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting involving Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in various areas, including politics, economy, technology, defense, education, and people-to-people exchanges. The discussions covered global developments, including the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Gulf.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar stated that the V4 countries supported India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council. The engagements come as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, with multilateral cooperation, global conflicts, and reform of international institutions among key issues on the agenda.
Key points
- Jaishankar calls for stronger multilateralism amid global stress
- India engages in diplomatic meetings during UNGA high-level week
- V4 countries support India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council
