External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to address the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday. His address is part of the high-level General Debate. The UNGA80, themed “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights,” is taking place amid global challenges. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also scheduled to speak in the same session. Since arriving in New York, Jaishankar has been engaged in various meetings. He met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to strengthen India-US ties and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region via the Quad. Rubio acknowledged India’s role in trade, energy, and minerals. Jaishankar also met with US Ambassador to India-designate Sergio Gor to advance the bilateral relationship. A special meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers, hosted by Kaja Kallas, with the participation of Brazil and Mexico’s ministers, covered issues like multilateralism, the India-EU partnership, the Ukraine conflict, the Gaza situation, and trade. Jaishankar also hosted a High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries, focused on enhancing collaboration among developing nations. The second L69 and C10 Joint Ministerial, hosted by Jaishankar, highlighted the Global South’s goal of UN Security Council reform. Following this, he hosted the Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), emphasizing India’s development partnerships with Pacific Island nations in health, technology, capacity building, and training. On Thursday, Jaishankar joined with his counterparts from Japan, Germany, and Brazil at the G4 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, reiterating their commitment to reforming the United Nations. Discussions also included the expansion of the Security Council. On Friday, Jaishankar hosted a meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers, emphasizing its role in promoting multilateralism. Earlier, he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss bilateral relations and the ongoing situations in Ukraine and the Middle East.
