'Don't be spectator, show leadership': EAM Jaishankar to UN on terrorism, global crises

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Sunday urged the United Nations to take a stronger leadership role in tackling global crises, saying it must not remain a spectator to conflicts and other challenges facing the world.

Speaking at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan on the occasion of UN Day, Jaishankar called for reforms in multilateral institutions, arguing that large parts of the world could not be excluded from decision-making. “The UN must show leadership, not be a spectator to global crises,” he said, adding that the case for reformed multilateralism was growing stronger by the day.

Jaishankar also described terrorism as a major threat to global peace, rejecting its use as an instrument of statecraft. “Its usage as an instrument of statecraft is simply unacceptable. It can never be justified, it can never be rationalized,” he said, calling for stronger international resolve to counter terrorism in all its forms. The minister said some countries continued to allow political calculations to take precedence over the fight against terrorism, despite the lessons of history.

Global South faces '4F crisis'

Jaishankar highlighted the challenges confronting developing countries, describing the Global South as facing a “4F crisis” involving finance, fuel, food and fertiliser. He said developed countries also had a stake in finding solutions and called for urgent steps to reduce risks in the international economy and provide nations with more diversified options. “Market distortions through constriction and choke points only add to suffering. A genuine dialogue in this regard is overdue,” he said.

Jaishankar calls for inclusive AI development

On technological change, Jaishankar said artificial intelligence could transform the world but warned against leaving its development and impact in the hands of a few. “AI promises to be the mother of all change,” he said, arguing that such a far-reaching technology required a responsible, inclusive and human-centric approach. He said India supported a broader perspective on AI, given its universal applicability and potential consequences for societies worldwide. Jaishankar also stressed that progress and prosperity were inseparable, saying the world could not advance while large sections of humanity remained deprived.