Adapt, Reapply, Navigate: Jaishankar’s Message For India In a Changing World

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said India, with expanding global interests, greater international exposure and a growing number of partners, must continuously adapt its approach to an increasingly complex global landscape. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi, he stressed the importance of regularly reassessing strategies in response to changing global dynamics.

Jaishankar pointed to the conflicts in the Gulf and Ukraine as examples of the diplomatic challenges facing India. He noted that India maintains good relations with all parties involved in both conflicts, making it necessary to carefully balance different interests while formulating its approach. He said such circumstances require nuanced discussions rather than straightforward positions, particularly as international developments increasingly have implications for India's interests.

The External Affairs Minister also referred to changes in the global economic environment, including the weaponisation of economic tools, greater tariff volatility and increased dumping in international markets. He said these developments, along with intensifying global competition and rising risks, require countries to consider ways to deter, avoid or mitigate their impact. According to Jaishankar, India's expanding role means its policies and responses must be continually reviewed and optimised rather than being based on rigid black-and-white positions.

Also Read: World Circular Economy Forum Heads To Gujarat In South Asia First

Emphasising the need for an approach suited to India's circumstances, Jaishankar said the country must draw lessons from the experiences of others while also recognising its own uniqueness. He described diplomacy as an exercise in nuance and said India needs to customise its responses to the challenges it faces. In this context, he highlighted the importance of institutions such as ICWA in encouraging informed debate and developing a deeper understanding of India's strategic choices.

Jaishankar said ICWA has played an important role in studying and promoting international affairs since its establishment. He recalled that Parliament's designation of the institution as an organisation of national importance recognised its distinctive contribution to India's intellectual engagement with the wider world. He said the 25th anniversary was therefore an opportunity not only to reflect on ICWA's journey but also to consider the role it can play in shaping debates in the years ahead.

The minister further observed that India now engages with a much wider range of countries and regions, while its global responsibilities and the expectations placed on it have also increased. As the country's global role expands, he said its intellectual engagement with international affairs must keep pace. Jaishankar added that a rising India should increasingly bring its own history, experiences, interests, concepts and terminology into its understanding of the world, with ICWA having an important role in facilitating informed debate from an Indian perspective.

Also Read: India To Export Up To 654 MW Power To Nepal For 18 Hours Daily