Jaishankar said conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia were imposing economic costs on countries far removed from the fighting. Screengrab: @DrSJaishankar
'UN must lead, not be spectator to global crises,' says Jaishankar
Jaishankar calls for long-pending UN reforms, stressing that conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are imposing economic costs on countries far removed from the fighting
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that the UN must lead, not stand by as a spectator to global crises. Speaking at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan on ‘Non-Dualism for World Understanding’ at Bharat Mandapam on Sunday (October 25), he called for long-pending reforms to the world body.
Flags economic costs of global conflicts
Jaishankar said conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia were imposing economic costs on countries far removed from the fighting. He said people were facing higher fuel and food prices despite having little say in the conflicts.
"There are today two major conflicts going on in the world: in Ukraine and in West Asia or the Middle East. Societies and economies, peoples far away, who have little say in the matter, are actually paying the cost. We cannot remain helpless spectators," said Jaishankar as quoted by ANI.
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Jaishankar said the UN was founded after World War II on the principle of cooperation among nations. He described UN Day (October 24) as a reminder that countries must work together to address shared challenges.
"Humankind has witnessed perpetual arguments between those who stress competitiveness and others who see a virtue in cooperation," he said, adding that the founding of the United Nations eight decades ago expressed the world's collective instinct.
‘India calls for dialogue and diplomacy’
On the ongoing conflicts, Jaishankar said India favoured dialogue and diplomacy over military action and was ready to work with other countries to pursue peace.
"India expresses global sentiment when we urge that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution. We are making efforts ourselves and are open to working with other partners to that end," he said.
‘UN reforms needed to widen global representation’
Jaishankar also called for changes to global decision-making bodies, including the UN Security Council, arguing that developing countries, particularly those in the Global South, could no longer remain excluded from global governance.
"We live in an imperfect world, but we all continuously strive towards greater perfection," he said, calling for the UN's shortcomings to be addressed through reformed multilateralism.
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"On this occasion, even as we recognise the need for such long-awaited changes, let us renew our commitment to work together. We are common, we are shared, we are united,” he added.
United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the UN Charter taking effect in 1945. The organisation was founded with a pledge to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war."