External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while addressing the inaugural Partners for Multilateralism Summit on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations
General Assembly, said that the global order is currently under stress. He referred to the challenges surrounding fuel, food, fertiliser and finance, saying they could not be left unaddressed. "The four 'F crisis' of Fuel, food, fertiliser and finance cannot be left to itself," Jaishankar said. Jaishankar called for multilateralism to assert itself strongly amid growing geopolitical competition, tensions and conflicts. "We meet at a time when the global order is under stress. For some decades the world has witnessed a steady rebalancing, which was a long-expected structural evolution. However, extreme competition, geopolitical tensions, and actual conflicts have given this an entirely different character" Jaishankar said. "If left unchecked, it would call into question the very spirit of international cooperation. That is why it is so essential that multilateralism asserts itself strongly at this juncture," he said. He said multilateralism will require greater advocacy and stronger implementation.
#WATCH | New York, USA: Addressing the inaugural Partners for Multilateralism Summit on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar says, "Let us recognize that whatever we have achieved so far is only through collective… pic.twitter.com/xl26CqH8Le
— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2026
The External Affairs Minister said the challenges facing the international community extend beyond diplomatic rhetoric and have direct implications for global peace, security and development. "At stake here are very real issues, not just words and expressions. The future of peace and international security, of climate action and climate justice, of emerging technologies and development finance, of countering terrorism and strengthening supply chains, and of ensuring disaster resilience and preparing for pandemics. All depend on a will to cooperate," Jaishankar said.
"Let us recognise that whatever we have achieved so far is only through collective efforts. The lesson here is to safeguard the good while striving for the better," he said.
"Where new capabilities and concerns arise, there is a very powerful case for frameworks and guardrails. Where there is a threat of choke points, dominance and disruptions, de-risking and diversifying must be encouraged," he said.
Jaishankar further said countries with shared interests should have the confidence to cooperate where there was a compelling case for collective action.
Jaishankar also discussed India-EU cooperation, multilateral issues and key global developments, including the situation in the Gulf, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, with his European Union counterparts during his visit.
