India cosponsors multilateralism event at UN as system feels heat

New Delhi: India has cosponsored the inaugural multilateralism summit at the United Nations, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar saying the global order is under stress and calling for more participative deliberations and transparent decision-making.

Jaishankar on Monday co-chaired the first-ever 'Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity (P4M)' Summit in New York on the margins of the high-level 81st session of the UN General Assembly, along with leaders from Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada and Kenya.

"India is glad to join as a co-sponsor. We meet at a time when the global order is under stress. For some decades, the world has witnessed a steady rebalancing, which was a long expected structural evolution," Jaishankar said. "However, extreme competition, geopolitical tensions and actual conflicts have given this an entirely different character. If left unchecked, it would call into question the very spirit of international cooperation. And that is why it is so essential that multilateralism asserts itself strongly at this juncture."


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The minister said the summit was addressing issues that require countries to work together.

"At stake here are very real issues, not just words and expressions. The future of peace and international security, of climate action and climate justice, of emerging technologies and development finance, of countering terrorism and strengthening supply chain, and of ensuring disaster resilience and preparing for pandemics, all depend on a will to cooperate. Let us recognise that whatever we have achieved so far is only through collective efforts. The lesson here is to safeguard the good, while striving for the better."

Jaishankar said a range of efforts could help advance these objectives. "Where ongoing conflicts are concerned, specific dimensions could be addressed even while we strive for a broader peace. The 4F crisis of fuel, food, fertiliser and finance cannot be left to itself. Where new capabilities and concerns arise, there is a very powerful case for frameworks and guardrails. Where there is a threat of chokepoints dominance and disruption, de-risking and diversifying must be encouraged. And where there is a compelling cause or a powerful case, the like-minded must have the confidence to come together," he said.

Multilateralism will be best served when global law, rules and norms are scrupulously observed, he said.

"For multilateralism to forge ahead, its advocacy and its practice must both be strengthened. Reformed multilateralism is therefore essential. More participative deliberations and more transparent decision-making are both overdue. That would provide the hope and the optimism, which is clearly needed by the UN system. And it would reinforce our resolve to work together."

Jaishankar was joined by the summit's co-sponsors, including European Council president Antonio Costa, Kenyan President William Ruto, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira also took part, as did Canadian permanent representative David Lametti, who read remarks on behalf of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

V4+India FMs discuss co-op

The first V4+India foreign ministers' meeting was held on the margins of the UNGA on Monday.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar participated in the meeting along with Juraj Blanar, minister of foreign and European affairs of the Slovak Republic; Radosław Sikorski, deputy PM and minister of foreign affairs of Poland; Petr Macinka, deputy PM and minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic; and Anita Orban, deputy PM and minister of foreign affairs of Hungary.

The ministers discussed opportunities for cooperation in trade and investment, technology and innovation, resilient supply chains, defence and security, connectivity, education, mobility and people-to-people exchanges. They also discussed greater interaction among businesses, academic and research institutions and other stakeholders from India and the V4 member states.