Jaishankar flags attacks and sanctions as price‑hostage strategy at G20

What Happened

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar warned that deliberate attacks on energy infrastructure and trade are being used to hold global energy prices hostage, and that sanctions and choke‑points are increasingly distorting markets, during the second plenary of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Atlanta. He said the world faces an energy crisis of unpredictability, disruption and high costs, not a lack of production, and noted little regard for low‑income countries. His remarks came as the United States maintains sanctions on Iranian oil and recently waived Russia‑linked sanctions, while attacks on energy assets and oil‑gas ships continue in the West Asia and Ukraine wars.

Reactions

After the session Jaishankar met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra and U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor. He also met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, discussing steady growth in India‑Canada cooperation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned December visit to Canada, and held talks with ministers from Australia, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Poland.

What’s Next

Jaishankar said India needs reliable LPG for clean cooking and highlighted a national mission covering critical‑mineral exploration to recycling, proposing a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative. He urged the G20 to widen finance, boost storage, small modular reactors, green hydrogen and bio‑fuels. He will travel to Antigua & Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from 1‑4 November, using the trip for further bilateral talks.

Context

Energy market shocks often arise from geopolitical tensions and targeted attacks, which can push prices up for poorer nations. The G20 forum is a key venue where major economies try to coordinate policies to keep fuel supplies stable.