World Seeing 'Weaponisation of Everything' as Competition Rising: EAM Jaishankar

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the world is witnessing more competition and fewer compacts, and the needle has moved towards an intersection of interests but away from

the promise of cooperation. This shift is being driven by the 'weaponisation of everything', with less inhibition in using available tools.In a veiled reference to Donald Trump’s tariffs, Jaishankar said that there is rising anti-globalisation sentiment in many societies, adding that trade calculations are being overturned by 'tariff volatility'. During such times, India has to strategise and continue rising amidst the volatility.Speaking further, Jaishankar said amid such times and an ever-changing global scenario, India’s national interest comes above all and that should be the final test in foreign policy making.

Addressing the inaugural session of Aravalli Summit 2025 in New Delhi, Jaishankar said that India must operate in a multi-polar environment while itself preparing to emerge as a pole. That is why multi-alignment serves it well right now, and the goal of becoming a leading power is a natural one for the future.

"Imagine, if today, you were not adopting strategic autonomy. Please tell me which country you would like to join up with and put our future in their hands. I can’t think of anybody... To me, my interest is best secured by maximising my opportunities and maintaining my freedom of choice...," Jaishankar said.Continuing further, EAM Jaishankar said, "We have multiple neighbours and some are better than others. The hyphenation happens with a neighbour who is not so nice. When we say de-hyphenation, it means it is our objective that decisions made by third countries about us are made keeping in mind as a primary factor of calculation. You will always see attempts to balance this or if there is a situation to use this to their own edge, then that is the competitive nature of international politics...From our perspective, the best way of de-hyphenation is to outstrip the other party in terms of power and capability..."

"We do try to accommodate neighbours... We can accommodate them to the extent our national interest allows," the External Affairs Minister added.

World Seeing Weaponisation of Everything, says Jaishankar

Throwing some light on how the global scenarios are changing and transforming, Jaishankar said, "Consider the global landscape now and let us reflect on the intensity of the transformation and their implications. A third of global manufacturing has moved to a single geography, with attendant consequences for supply chains. There is rising anti-globalization sentiment in many societies. Trade calculations are being overturned by tariff volatility.""The global energy scenario has changed profoundly with the US becoming a major fossil fuel exporter and China a key renewable one. There are competing models on the harnessing of data and evolution of Artificial Intelligence which jostle with each other. Big Tech has become a significant player in itself. New routes of connectivity are emerging, some of them with a strategic purpose. The mobility debate seeks to reconcile skills, demand and social reactions to them," he added.

"The application of sanctions, the seizure of assets, the advent of crypto - they have all today changed the face of global finance. Competition for rare earths and critical minerals has become visceral, even as technology controls have further tightened. The quality of weaponry and the nature of war itself has been transformed, making it more stand-off, more impactful and definitely more risk-prone," Jaishankar said as he brought more attention to the new challenges. Elaborating further on how India has to strategise, Jaishankar said, "Now, the strategic consequences of such deep change across a broad swathe of human activity occurring in such a short timeframe is surely very profound. We see an erosion in sovereignty facilitated by tech penetration and manipulation. Global rules and regimes are being revisited and at times, even discarded. Cost is no longer the defining criteria for economic transactions; ownership and security are equally so. End to end risks are rising, beginning with the concentration of production, moving through limited supply chains and then to dependence on key markets. Alliances and understandings are being reviewed and renegotiated. A belief in balance of power is being replaced with actions based on margins of power. Cumulatively, the world is witnessing more competition and less compacts. The needle has shifted towards an intersection of interests and away from the promise of cooperation. It is driven by the weaponization of everything, with less inhibition to use available tools. Now all nations face these predicaments. But while the majority are struggling to cope or busy defending their interests, India has to strategise and India has to continue rising amidst such volatility."