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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                             OCTOBER 10, 2025       |  The Indian Eye 16


                   Jaishankar Makes India’s Case





         for Reform and Stability at UNGA80






                 From pushing for Security Council reform with G4 partners to urging global stability

        at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar presented India’s
                vision for a more representative and resilient multilateral order at the United Nations.



        OUR BUREAU                                                                                            domestic concerns. Rising instabili-
                                                                                                              ty in India’s neighborhood, whether
        United Nations (NY)
                                                                                                              from cross-border terrorism or sup-
              t the 80th United Nations                                                                       ply  chain  vulnerabilities,  has  direct
             General Assembly (UNGA80),                                                                       implications for its development. By
        AExternal Affairs Minister S.                                                                         internationalizing these issues, India
        Jaishankar used a combination of                                                                      seeks both solidarity and legitimacy
        bilateral diplomacy, multilateral en-                                                                 for its responses.
        gagement, and strategic messaging                                                                         Critics may argue that despite
        to showcase India’s global position.                                                                  such efforts, Security Council reform
        His participation underscored India’s                                                                 remains a distant goal. The P5 have
        growing weight in shaping interna-                                                                    little incentive to dilute their privi-
        tional conversations, particularly on                                                                 leges, and  divisions  within the UN
        reforming  outdated  institutions  and                                                                membership further complicate con-
        managing geopolitical turbulence.                                                                     sensus.  Yet,  by  persistently  raising
            The highlight of Jaishankar’s                                                                     the issue in forums like the G4, India
        visit was his participation in the G4                                                                 ensures the demand for reform does
        Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, along-                                                                    not fade into irrelevance. Even in-
        side Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya, Germa-                                                                    cremental progress—such as broader
        ny’s Johann Wadephul, and Brazil’s                                                                    recognition of the need for reform—
        Mauro Vieira. The four countries,                                                                     adds weight to India’s case.
        long aspirants for permanent mem-  External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shakes hands with the UN Secretary-General Antonio   What stood out in Jaishankar’s
        bership of the UN Security Council,   Guterres during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80), in New York on   engagements was India’s ability to
        reiterated their “strong commitment”                                                                  operate  simultaneously  at  multiple
        to meaningful reform of the United                   Sunday. (@DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo)             levels: coalition-building with G4
        Nations. The ministers took stock                                                                     partners, agenda-setting at the G20,
        of the slow-moving Inter-Govern-  Latin America, the UN risks fur-  Global North and South, positioning   bilateral relationship management,
        mental Negotiation (IGN) process,   ther  erosion  of  credibility.  India’s   itself as a bridge-builder.  and narrative framing at the global
        which has for years been caught in   case is particularly strong—it is the   His conversation with Yvette   stage. For a country whose foreign
        stalemate due to resistance from the   world’s most populous country, the   Cooper was particularly  timely,  fol-  policy was once seen as cautious and
        existing P5 powers.               fifth-largest economy, a nuclear pow-  lowing Prime Minister Narendra   reactive, this marks a striking shift.
            For India, the symbolism of   er, and one of the largest contribu-  Modi’s recent UK visit and the an-  As the UNGA80 proceedings
        the  G4  meeting  was  significant.  By   tors to UN peacekeeping operations.  nouncement of “Vision 2035,” a   continue, India’s message is becom-
        aligning with Japan, Germany, and     Beyond  institutional reform,  framework meant to deepen In-    ing  clearer:  the world  is  changing,
        Brazil—three other large economies   Jaishankar’s diplomacy extended   dia-UK  cooperation in  trade,  tech-  and global governance must change
        and democracies—Jaishankar rein-  to pressing global challenges. At   nology, and security. With Egypt,  with it. Jaishankar’s diplomatic out-
        forced the argument that the UN’s   the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meet-  Jaishankar held what he described as   reach in New York reflected not just
        most powerful body does not reflect   ing hosted by South Africa on the   a “warm conversation,” reinforcing   India’s aspirations for recognition,
        today’s geopolitical realities. “G4 re-  sidelines of UNGA, he spoke of the   the growing India-Middle East part-  but also its willingness to shoulder
        iterated its commitment to reform-  need for stability in an increasingly   nership that has gained momentum   responsibility. In a world fractured
        ing the United Nations including the   fragmented world. “In a politically   through the I2U2 and IMEC initia-  by wars, climate crises, and econom-
        UN Security Council. It also assessed   & economically volatile international   tives. With Australia, the “catch-up”  ic instability, New Delhi is signaling
        the current state of the Inter-Gov-  situation, G20 members have a par-  highlighted the Quad’s continuing   that it can be a voice for reform, bal-
        ernmental Negotiation IGN process,”   ticular responsibility to strengthen its   importance  in  the  Indo-Pacific  stra-  ance, and stability.
        Jaishankar posted on X, marking In-  stability and give it a more positive   tegic landscape.             For India, the journey to perma-
        dia’s continued push for a seat at the   direction,” he said. His three-fold   Behind these interactions lay   nent membership of the UN Securi-
        high table.                       prescription—dialogue and diplo-  a consistent theme: India’s push to   ty Council may still be long. But by
            Jaishankar’s message was clear:   macy, a firm stand against terrorism,  move from being a rule-taker to a   making its case forcefully, aligning
        the legitimacy and effectiveness of   and enhanced energy and economic   rule-shaper in international politics.  with like-minded powers, and pre-
        global institutions are at stake. With-  security—reflects  India’s  pragmatic   Jaishankar’s remarks at the G20—  senting itself as a pragmatic prob-
        out expanding the Security Council   approach. It also echoes New Delhi’s   emphasizing terrorism and energy   lem-solver, New Delhi is ensuring it
        to better represent Asia, Africa, and   attempt to strike a balance between   security—also  reflect  New  Delhi’s   cannot be ignored.


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