External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in a series of high-level diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week. His discussions with several global counterparts reflected India’s growing role in shaping international cooperation and addressing shared concerns.
During his meeting with Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel, Jaishankar noted the importance of aligning India’s approach with Europe’s evolving strategic priorities. Their conversation highlighted India’s rising engagement with European partners at a time when global security and economic realignments are under scrutiny.
Bilateral relations with Sri Lanka also featured on his agenda as Jaishankar met with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. The two leaders reviewed the progress of joint projects and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties in trade, security, and regional cooperation.
Jaishankar also exchanged views with Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, focusing on the Ukraine conflict, European developments, and India-EU collaboration. He valued Rasmussen’s perspective on Europe’s geopolitical situation, particularly under Denmark’s presidency of the EU, and emphasized India’s readiness to broaden its partnerships.
His discussions extended beyond Europe. Jaishankar met Lesotho’s Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoana, describing the interaction as warm and constructive. He also held talks with Suriname’s Foreign Minister Melvin Bouva, who expressed appreciation for India’s longstanding friendship with his country.
Beyond bilateral talks, Jaishankar addressed the High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries. He underscored that the Global South, carefully building its rights and aspirations over decades, now confronts multiple disruptions. He pointed to the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, worsening climate disasters, unpredictable trade patterns, rising interest rates, and declining investment flows. He stressed that these issues collectively threaten the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda.
Highlighting the mounting concerns of member nations, Jaishankar called for stronger unity and resilience among Global South countries. He emphasised that while the world faces unprecedented uncertainty, cooperation and solidarity remain crucial to overcoming these shared challenges.
Through these engagements, Jaishankar reinforced India’s commitment to building lasting partnerships and addressing pressing global concerns, balancing bilateral relations with a strong voice for the collective priorities of the Global South.
