New Delhi: India on Thursday used the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi to send a strong diplomatic message to the global community amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. Addressing leaders from member nations, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed the need for dialogue, multilateral cooperation and global stability at a time when conflicts and economic disruptions are affecting countries worldwide.
Speaking at the high-level meeting, Jaishankar highlighted concerns over the worsening situation in West Asia and warned that threats to maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea could severely impact global trade and energy security. He said safe and uninterrupted maritime movement was essential for global economic well-being.
India also raised the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reiterated support for a ceasefire, humanitarian assistance and the two-state solution. The minister referred to ongoing instability in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Libya, saying regional conflicts were now having wider global consequences.
In a significant remark, Jaishankar criticised unilateral sanctions and coercive measures that violate international law and the UN Charter. He said such actions disproportionately hurt developing nations and “pressure cannot replace diplomacy”. The statement was widely seen as India’s indirect criticism of sanction-based global politics.
India also reiterated its tough stand against cross-border terrorism and called for “zero tolerance” against terror activities. Jaishankar further pressed for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council, saying the current multilateral system could no longer address modern global challenges effectively.