At the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York, Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, took a strong stand against terrorism. He clarified India’s stance, stating there should be no tolerance or concessions. He identified terrorism as the primary threat to global peace and development, stating that nations taking action against terrorism serve the international community.
Jaishankar expressed concern about the current global state, emphasizing the decline of peace and development. He highlighted the severe impact on Global South countries due to issues in energy, food, and fertilizer security. He cited the Ukraine war and the Gaza conflict as examples of how these issues strain national economies.
He firmly stated that development is supported by peace, and development cannot be undermined to achieve peace. Jaishankar accused certain countries of using double standards at the international level. He said applying different standards in similar situations makes the path to peace more difficult. He emphasized diplomacy and dialogue over displays of power or an arms race as the path to resolving conflicts.
The Foreign Minister underscored the significant impact of the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts on the Global South, emphasizing disruptions to supply chains and logistics that have increased costs. Jaishankar also questioned double standards and said that while peace supports development, hindering development does not facilitate peace.
He noted that some countries can engage in dialogue with both sides. He proposed that the international community should include and encourage such countries in peace restoration efforts. He also questioned the limitations of the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, stressing that the current situation indicates the need for urgent reforms in these institutions, including the UN.
Jaishankar delivered a clear message from India that the world cannot afford to take a passive approach to issues like terrorism and conflict. He stressed that making energy and resources uncertain is harmful to any economically weak nation and makes it harder to achieve peace.