THE NEWS FREEDOM
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 26
External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, highlighted on Monday the nation’s strengthened responses to the persistent challenge of cross-border terrorism, particularly on the Western front. Referring to significant incidents such as Uri and Balakot, Jaishankar emphasized their impact as clear messages sent by India in response to such threats.
Speaking at the inaugural Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru memorial lectures 2024, themed ‘Bharat and the World’ at JNU, Jaishankar underscored India’s firm commitment to regional security, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. He reiterated India’s steadfastness in advancing and consolidating the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).
Delivering the Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru Memorial Lecture 2024 at JNU https://t.co/BW09hXmaeD
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2024
Jaishankar noted the evolving landscape of national security, acknowledging the complexity introduced by new tools of influence and disruption. He affirmed India’s resilience in confronting these challenges with determination and fortitude.
Furthermore, Jaishankar pointed out the global shifts occurring over the past decade, including a backlash against globalization and a rise in assertions of identity and autonomy. He highlighted the implications of such changes, exacerbated by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and West Asia.
Jaishankar emphasized India’s independent and confident stance in navigating these uncertainties, citing examples such as energy procurement choices and challenges to prevailing globalization narratives. He noted the discernible progress in the economic and political re-balancing of the global order, with the G20 surpassing the G7 and India’s upward trajectory in global rankings.
“A world of new balances is coming into being that features a re-positioning of the US and the rise of China, amongst other developments. It is also one of sharper East-West polarization, currently focused on Ukraine but not necessarily limited to it. At the same time, there is a deeper North-South divide revolving around concerns of development, debt, resources and equity,” he said.
“We faced the entirety of these complications during our Presidency of the G20. In response, we were not only able to achieve consensus but also produce impactful outcomes on key issues. In doing so against such daunting odds, we were able to demonstrate that the quest to be a Vishwa Mitra has actually struck a chord with the international community,” Jaishankar further added.