Jaishankar tells G20 diplomacy must prevail over military solutions

S Jaishankar urged G20 foreign ministers to prioritise diplomacy over military solutions. His remarks highlighted threats to shipping, supply chains and the Global South.

In Short

• Jaishankar urged protection of navigation rights under established international maritime law
• Global South faces higher fuel, food and fertiliser costs from attacks
• India warned weaponised supply chains and market distortions impede industrialisation

India has said military solutions will not resolve global challenges and diplomacy must be given a chance, news agency Press Trust of India reported on Friday.

Addressing the first plenary session of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called for freedom of navigation to be protected and attacks on seafarers to end in accordance with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In a post on X, Jaishankar listed the points he raised at the meeting hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Emphasised that in the face of global challenges, military solutions will not work and diplomacy must be given a chance,” he said.

His comments came amid conflicts in several parts of the world, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia.

Jaishankar said countries were being denied the right to industrialise through the flooding of markets, the use of supply chains as a weapon, restricted market access and market distortions. “This must cease,” he said. He also stressed the need to build resilient and alternative connectivity as countries reduce risks and diversify.

On terrorism, Jaishankar said: “Tactical calculations should not lead to overlooking the dangers of terrorism. It is a high-risk activity which has come back to bite even the practitioners.”

According to PTI, Jaishankar said the Global South was bearing a disproportionate share of the consequences of attacks on civilian ships and seafarers, affecting the availability and cost of fuel, food and fertilisers. At least 22 Indians, including 14 seafarers, have died since the war began in West Asia in February this year.

Jaishankar arrived in Atlanta late on Thursday and interacted with his counterparts from several countries before the meeting.

Opening the two-day discussions, Rubio warned that the world faced a “moment of choosing” amid mounting economic and geopolitical crises. “I hope this will be a productive meeting today, as we are in a critical moment. I would call it a moment of choosing, and I would say not just for my country, the United States of America, but frankly for the world,” he said.

The gathering also included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was seated between his counterparts from Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

Rubio said the world faced interconnected economic and geopolitical crises that posed serious threats to the foundations of the global economic order. These included disruptions to energy and food markets, global supply chains, trade and freedom of navigation. He said the G20 must work together to confront these threats, strengthen economic resilience and safeguard markets and the economies they support.

The meeting is being held amid deep divisions among G20 countries over global crises. After his address, Rubio said in a post on X that maritime and food security were crucial to economic security. He said the US, through its “America First” agenda, was encouraging partners to protect shipping routes, strengthen food security and reduce the economic effects of geopolitical crises.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the US Department of State said Washington would work with G20 partners during the meeting to address geopolitical crises contributing to global economic shocks. These included threats to freedom of navigation, energy and food security, and supply chains.

The US is scheduled to host the G20 Leaders' Summit in Miami on December 14 and 15. Jaishankar will also attend a Quad ministerial meeting with his counterparts from Japan, Australia and the US on the sidelines of the G20 meeting.

This will be the second Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting this year, ahead of a likely leaders' summit to be hosted by the US in the Philippines next month. From Atlanta, Jaishankar will travel to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled from November 1 to 4.

The G20 meeting is focused on addressing global economic and geopolitical crises, with India calling for diplomacy, secure shipping routes, resilient supply chains and stronger action against terrorism.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends