New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Thursday said the world is witnessing deep geopolitical and economic uncertainty driven by overlapping global crises, including conflicts, climate shocks, and long-term disruptions in the international system.
Speaking at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on global and regional issues in New Delhi, Jaishankar said these developments are not isolated events but part of a broader convergence of challenges that are testing the resilience of multilateral institutions and weakening growth prospects worldwide.
He noted that emerging markets and developing countries are facing the sharpest impact, particularly through pressures on energy, food, and fertilizer security, supply chain disruptions, inflation, and constrained development pathways.
Highlighting the role of BRICS, the minister said collective action is essential to ensure stability, sustainability, and prosperity. He stressed that the grouping must move beyond deliberation and work toward coordinated responses to global challenges.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to the UN framework, he said respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain the foundation of international relations. In contrast, dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable tools for conflict resolution, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
Jaishankar expressed concern over ongoing instability in West Asia, warning that disruptions to maritime routes and energy infrastructure are highlighting the fragility of the situation. He underlined the importance of ensuring safe and uninterrupted maritime flows through key global waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
He also referred to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating that a sustained ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a viable pathway toward a durable peace are essential. He reiterated India’s support for a two-state solution.
The minister also flagged concerns over continuing crises in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya, noting their combined humanitarian and security implications. He said these situations demand sustained international engagement and coordinated diplomatic efforts.
Jaishankar warned against unilateral coercive measures and sanctions that he said are inconsistent with international law and disproportionately affect developing countries. He argued that such measures cannot replace dialogue or diplomacy.
He also underlined terrorism as a continuing global threat, stating that there can be no justification for cross-border terrorism and calling for zero tolerance as a universal norm.
On technology and climate change, he said emerging innovations must be matched with trust, transparency, and equitable access, while climate action must align with climate justice backed by adequate financing.
Jaishankar also said the multilateral system, particularly the UN, is weakening and requires urgent reform, including changes in the UN Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories. He warned that delays in reform come at a high global cost.
