Jaishankar has a message for the world: Give diplomacy a chance, as military solutions won't work

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said military solutions would not resolve global conflicts and called for diplomacy to be given a chance, while cautioning countries against overlooking the threat of terrorism for tactical gains.

Speaking at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta, he also raised concerns over attacks on seafarers, threats to freedom of navigation and restrictions on developing countries' efforts to industrialise.

"Emphasised that in the face of global challenges, military solutions will not work and diplomacy must be given a chance," Jaishankar said in a post on X after attending the first plenary session of the meeting hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.


His remarks come amid continuing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, as well as India's concerns over cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan especially after the April 25 Pahalgam terror attack.

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Jaishankar also cautioned countries against allowing strategic interests to take precedence over the threat of terrorism.

"Tactical calculations should not lead to overlooking the dangers of terrorism. It is a high-risk activity which has come back to bite even the practitioners," he said.

Attacks on shipping threaten food and energy security

Jaishankar said the Global South was bearing a disproportionate share of the consequences of attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers. Such incidents threaten the availability and cost of essential commodities, including fuel, food and fertilisers.

He stressed the need to protect freedom of navigation and ensure that attacks on seafarers cease in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

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At least 22 Indians, including 14 seafarers, have lost their lives since the conflict in West Asia began in February this year.

India and Liberia have also initiated a collaborative framework to protect seafarers, according to the additional details shared on Jaishankar's diplomatic engagements.

India flags trade barriers and supply chain risks

Jaishankar also raised concerns over restrictions on developing countries' right to industrialise, pointing to market flooding, the weaponisation of supply chains, restricted market access and market distortions.

"This must cease," he said.

The minister called for building resilient and alternative connectivity networks as countries seek to reduce risks and diversify their trade and supply chains.

His remarks come amid concerns over China's export control restrictions and their impact on access to critical goods and supply chains. Jaishankar stressed the importance of alternative trade routes as countries look to reduce their dependence on concentrated supply networks.

Rubio flags risks to global economic order

Opening the two-day G20 deliberations, Rubio described the current global situation as a "moment of choosing", pointing to interconnected economic and geopolitical crises.

"I hope this will be a productive meeting today, as we are in a critical moment. I would call it a moment of choosing, and I would say not just for my country, the United States of America, but frankly for the world," Rubio said.

"We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, many of which pose severe threats to essential foundations of the global economic order, new disruptions and strains to global energy and food markets, to the global supply chain, to trade, to freedom of navigation itself," he said.

He called on G20 members to work together to strengthen economic resilience and safeguard markets.

After the session, Rubio said maritime and food security were central to economic security. He added that the US was encouraging its partners to protect shipping routes, strengthen food security and reduce the economic impact of geopolitical crises.

"At today's G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, I made clear that maritime and food security drive economic security. Through our America First agenda, the United States is encouraging partners to protect shipping routes, strengthen food security, and reduce the economic consequences of geopolitical crises," Rubio posted on X.

The US Department of State had earlier said the ministerial would focus on geopolitical developments affecting global economic stability, including threats to freedom of navigation, energy and food security, and supply chains.

The meeting comes amid differences among G20 members over several global crises. The US is scheduled to host the G20 Leaders' Summit in Miami on December 14 and 15.

Jaishankar to attend Quad meeting before Commonwealth visit

Jaishankar's Atlanta visit follows Rubio's visit to India from October 20 to 22.

On the sidelines of the G20 meeting, the Indian minister is also scheduled to attend a Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting with counterparts from the US, Japan and Australia. This will be the second such ministerial meeting this year, ahead of a likely leaders' summit in the Philippines next month.

After his engagements in Atlanta, Jaishankar will travel to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled from November 1 to 4.

His engagements come ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Miami in December, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi may attend.