India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged stronger multilateral cooperation and reforms in global institutions, warning that the international order is under growing pressure from intense competition, geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts. He made the remarks at the Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity (P4M) Summit in New York, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Jaishankar said multilateralism must be reinforced to uphold international cooperation and address emerging global challenges. He highlighted the 4F crisis—Fuel, Food, Fertiliser and Finance—and warned that it cannot be left to itself. He called for de‑risking and diversifying supply chains in the face of potential chokepoint dominance and urged like‑minded countries to come together when there is a compelling cause.
He added that multilateralism will be best served when international law, rules and norms are scrupulously observed, and called for more participative deliberations and transparent decision‑making. The summit was co‑chaired by Jaishankar and European Council President António Costa.
The P4M initiative, founded by leaders of the European Union, Brazil, Kenya and Canada, aims to create a flexible, open framework for countries from different regions and political traditions to build coalitions for reform and translate shared principles into practical action. It will be presented at the UN General Assembly’s high‑level debate this week. A joint editorial noted that the initiative would not create another exclusive bloc or bureaucracy, and cited 2025 as the year with the highest recorded number of state‑based armed conflicts since 1946 and the highest recorded military spending of nearly $3 trillion.
