September 29th 2023.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday made a "very important distinction" that India is "non-Western" and "not anti-Western", while addressing an interactive session at Hudson Institute on ‘India’s role in a New Pacific Order’.
Speaking on changing world architecture, Jaishankar said, “The world as we live it today is largely a Western construct. Now, if you look at the world architecture there's been obviously enormous change in the last 80 years… nothing illustrates it more than the G20 itself. So, the list of the G20 will tell you the easiest way of actually getting a sense of the changes in the world.”
“So, I make this very important distinction. Where India is concerned, India is non-Western. India is not anti-Western,” he added.
Sustainable Development Goals
On India being described as a reformist rather than as a revisionist power, Jaishankar said, “… it's very clear today that we are serious about climate action. If you are looking to sustain, to ensure that Sustainable Development Goals are well-resourced, then somewhere we have to find the financial muscle for that.”
He then moved on to discuss the need for the United Nations to stay relevant in the modern world, saying that it cannot remain "indefinite" and "unchallenged". The EAM called for the U.N. to make reforms to ensure its credibility and effectiveness.
At the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Jaishankar said, "We do believe today United Nations where the most populous country is not in the Security Council, when the fifth largest economy is not there, when a continent of 50 plus countries is not there, that United Nations obviously lacks credibility and toward large degree effectiveness as well. So when we approach the world, it's not with a sort of pull down the pillars kind of approach.”
Wrapping up his New York visit, the EAM arrived in Washington, DC on September 28. Upon his arrival, Jaishankar met his US counterpart Antony Blinken in Washington DC, and the two leaders affirmed hope for positive outcomes from the bilateral talks.
Further, during an interaction at the Hudson Institute, the EAM added, "John you said that India and the United States have never worked together before...That is a very thoughtful observation because dealing with each other is not the same as working with each other. In the past we have always dealt with each other, sometimes not entirely happily, but working with each other is really uncharted territory.”
“It is a territory which we have both entered in the last few years. It has required both of us, to overcome what my Prime Minister called the hesitations of history when he spoke to Congress a few years ago. So how do we create that ability and the convergences and hopefully the comfort to work together? I think that would be very crucial to the future of the Pacific order," he added.
On a visit to the US since September 22, Jaishankar will also be addressing the 4th World Culture Festival, which is being organised by the Art of Living Foundation of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
In light of recent allegations made by Canada, the External Affairs Minister also commented on the tension between India and Canada in recent months. He said, “Our diplomats are threatened, our consulates have been attacked, and all kinds of unacceptable things have been happening.”
He added, “So, it’s obviously a matter of deep concern to us and I am sure it’s a matter of concern to you as well because I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interests that the relationship between India and Canada should be affected in this way.”
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to the US has been a busy one as he has addressed multiple issues surrounding India's role in the new Pacific order. He has also discussed the need for the United Nations to make reforms in order to stay relevant, and reaffirmed his commitment to improving India's ties with the US. The EAM also addressed the recent tensions between India and Canada, expressing his deep concern and believing it is not in anyone’s interests for the relationship to be affected in such a way.
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