Jaishankar calls for greater resilience in global trade at Abu Dhabi forum

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that globalisation cannot be reversed and must be navigated with greater resilience. Speaking on Thursday, October 15, 2026, he highlighted that global competition has intensified while new trade chokepoints have emerged.

Panel Discussion

Mr. Jaishankar made these remarks during a session titled 'The Continental Corridors: Who Connects the Heartland?' at the Raisina Dialogue's Middle East edition in Abu Dhabi. The panel featured former Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa, DP World CEO and Managing Director Rizwan Soomar, and Armida van Rij, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform in London. He arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, for a three-day official visit to review bilateral ties and called for urgent reform of multilateral institutions.

Context

These discussions take place against the backdrop of heightened volatility in West Asia following the U.S.-Iran war, which has placed maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz under severe strain due to repeated attacks on vessels. Amid this evolving landscape, India is actively building its own national strengths, establishing trusted partnerships, and advancing projects like the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor to reshape regional connectivity and economic integration.