Global South under attack: EAM @ UN

Ashwin Ahmad New Delhi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has urged Global South countries to reduce dependence on any single supplier or market by building resilient supply chains, alongside promoting fair eco­nomic practices, and boosting South-South trade and technology collaborations.

Speaking on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, he said the rights of Global South nations were under attack and chalked out a plan of action as to how they could deal with them. “The rights and expectations of developing countries in the international system – which has been so assiduously developed over many decades – are today under challenge,” said Jaishankar. 

“The building blocks of the contemporary order are starting to come apart. And the cost of delaying much-needed reforms is today starkly visible,” he said.

The criticism of “contemporary order” would be viewed as interesting, as it comes after his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said India remained a partner of “critical importance”. 

An Indian diplomat called the language “terse”. “The standard clauses like natural allies and natural partners are missing from this US administration. The clauses emphasise the naturalness of the India-US ties. Rubio’s statement does not convey the same message,” he said.