Jaishankar Links Ukraine, Gaza Conflicts to Global South’s Economic Pain; Calls for Dialogue, UN Reform
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a pointed address at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York on Thursday, warning that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are not only escalating geopolitical instability but also inflicting deep economic damage on the Global South.
 | |
| India's Foreign Minister Speaking on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly |
He cited soaring costs and disrupted access to food, energy, and fertilizer as direct consequences of war, disproportionately impacting the developing world.
“The costs, especially to the Global South, were starkly demonstrated by ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza,” he said. “Making energy and other essentials more uncertain in an economically fragile situation helps no one.”
Jaishankar called out double standards in the global response to these crises and warned against policies that deepen volatility.
“Peace can certainly enable development, but by threatening development, we cannot facilitate peace,” he told fellow ministers, urging them to move “towards dialogue and diplomacy, not in the opposite direction.”
The Indian foreign minister emphasized the role of countries that retain the capacity to engage both sides of a conflict.
“Such countries can be utilized by the international community both to achieve peace and to maintain it thereafter,” he said, making a case for multipolar diplomacy and inclusive conflict resolution.
Reinforcing India’s longstanding position, Jaishankar also issued a strong condemnation of terrorism, calling it a “perennial disruptor of peace” and demanding zero tolerance.
“Given the extensive networking among terrorists, those who act against them on any front render a larger service to the international community as a whole,” he said.
He also flagged the institutional shortcomings of the United Nations and multilateral systems, saying their limitations have become “clearly visible” amid global crises.
“The need for reforming multilateralism has never been greater,” he added, renewing India’s call for urgent structural change to make global institutions more representative and effective.
Concluding his remarks, Jaishankar said the G20 carries a special responsibility to provide political and economic stability at a time of global volatility.
“That is best done by undertaking dialogue and diplomacy, by firmly combating terrorism, and by appreciating the need for stronger energy and economic security,” he said.
India’s address comes as part of a broader diplomatic campaign to realign global narratives around equity, development, and sovereignty -- particularly from the perspective of the Global South.