Rules are fading as nations use power to create choke points, says S Jaishankar

Global rules are getting less respect today, which has caused the rise of various choke points around the world.

What Happened

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made these remarks on Tuesday while speaking at an Asia Society event in New York. He stated that nations are pushing hard to use whatever leverage they hold against rivals and competitors. According to him, this trend has grown sharper over the past four to five years, leading to geographical problems like the Strait of Hormuz, financial blocks through sanctions, travel restrictions, and limited market access.

Global Paradox

Jaishankar pointed out a major paradox in international diplomacy today. Every country feels a very strong urge to compete, yet global interdependence is deeper than ever before. He described interdependence as a hard reality and competition as a sentiment. This constant pull between wanting to beat rivals and dealing with deep mutual reliance makes diplomacy a very tough job, he added.

Context

Global diplomacy often has to balance national interests with the needs of global trade and supply chains. Leaders frequently discuss how modern economic ties link countries together even as political rivalries grow stronger.