Not dominated by few: Jaishankar calls for representative global order amid US tariff pressure

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that there is a need for a fair global order. He stated that “Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order, not one dominated by a few.”

The remarks come come amid rising global tension, including US tariff threats and pressure on India’s oil trade with Russia.

Speaking at the BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival in Delhi titled 'SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody,' Jaishankar spoke about the broader vision for global balance.


“We live in complicated and uncertain times. Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order, not one dominated by a few. That quest is often articulated as political or economic rebalancing,” he said.


Jaishankar further said cultural traditions play a key role in strengthening identity. “Traditions are of particular value because ultimately they define identity. We must be assured about what we are if we want to be confident about shaping the future. For nations like us, traditions are truly a great source of strength,” he added.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier commitments, Jaishankar said, “I also want to underline what Director General of ICCR has said, that this was a commitment which was made by Prime Minister Modi at the BIMSTEC Summit and I am so glad that like so many of his commitments, that has been kept and kept early.”


The external affairs minister also spoke about how cultural exposure shaped his personal outlook. “In my own case, it was actually through music and to some extent books that I developed an interest in the world. There is so much that music is able to convey that it is understandably regarded as the soul of a society,” he said.

“Music serves both as a bridge between nations and a powerful expression of their heritage and identity,” he concluded.