External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York and discussed several major global issues, including the situations in West Asia, Ukraine and Sudan. The meeting came as India highlighted its priorities for a possible non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term.

Jaishankar described his meeting with Guterres as positive while speaking to news agency PTI after leaving the UN headquarters. In a post on X, the External Affairs Minister said he was glad to meet the UN chief and noted that the discussions covered important international developments as well as the growing cooperation between India and the United Nations.

“Glad to meet @antonioguterres, Secretary General of the UN in New York today. Discussed global developments, including of West Asia, Ukraine and Sudan. Also recognised the strength of India-UN cooperation,” Jaishankar said. The meeting followed the launch of India’s official campaign for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 period. The campaign event, held at the UN headquarters, was attended by ambassadors, diplomats and senior officials from several countries.

While outlining India’s vision for its potential UNSC tenure, Jaishankar said New Delhi’s approach to the United Nations was guided by the principle of “SHANTI”, which stands for “Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity”. He said India would focus on strengthening global cooperation and addressing emerging challenges through a balanced and inclusive approach.

The minister highlighted several key priorities for India’s campaign, including representing the concerns of the Global South, promoting reformed multilateralism, developing future-ready peacekeeping mechanisms, addressing threats arising from the misuse of artificial intelligence, protecting maritime commons and combating terror financing.

Also Read: Jaishankar Launches India's Campaign For 2028-29 UNSC Seat During UN Visit

Jaishankar said India remained committed to bringing the perspectives of developing nations to discussions on international peace and security. He emphasised that the country’s role at the UN would focus on ensuring that the voices of the Global South receive greater attention in global decision-making forums. India’s campaign comes ahead of elections for the 2028-29 UNSC term, which will be held in June next year. India and Tajikistan are set to compete for the single seat allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group category. India previously served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during the 2021-22 term, marking its eighth stint at the powerful 15-member body.

The country has earlier held the seat during 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and 2011-2012. With global challenges ranging from conflicts and humanitarian crises to technological risks and security concerns, India’s latest bid reflects its push for a larger role in shaping international policies and strengthening multilateral institutions. The discussions between Jaishankar and Guterres also underscored the importance of cooperation between India and the UN at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

Also Read: Jaishankar Launches India's Campaign For 2028-29 UNSC Seat During UN Visit