S Jaishankar highlights Global South challenges and warns against state-sponsored terror

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Sunday that nations in the Global South face a severe four-part crisis involving finance, fuel, food, and fertilisers. Speaking at the 75th-anniversary event of the Chinmaya Mission, he noted that societies far away from conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are paying a heavy price for ongoing global turmoil.

Economic Risks

Jaishankar called on the Global North to help find solutions and urged the international economy to reduce its risks by creating diversified trade options. He criticized market distortions caused by choke points and constriction, arguing that dialogue and diplomacy are the only valid paths forward. He also condemned terrorism as a deadly threat to peace, stating that using terror as a tool of statecraft is unacceptable and can never be rationalized.

Global Governance

Addressing governance, Jaishankar said the United Nations must show stronger leadership instead of acting as a passive spectator to international crises. He also warned that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence must not be controlled by just a few powers, advocating instead for an inclusive and human-centric approach.

Context

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar frequently represents India's foreign policy positions at major international and domestic gatherings, often addressing broader themes of multilateral reform and economic equity. The Global South is a term used to describe developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America that often share common economic and developmental hurdles.