India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, on Sunday, voiced strong criticism of the United Nations, calling it a “bystander” amid ongoing global conflicts that have left the world divided. Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave, Jaishankar likened the UN to an outdated business that has failed to evolve in a fast-changing world.
“The United Nations is like an old company, not entirely keeping up with the market, but occupying the space,” Jaishankar remarked. He further pointed out that despite the organization’s shortcomings, it remains the “only multilateral game in town.”
However, he expressed concern that when the UN fails to address critical global issues, countries often resort to their own measures, citing the example of the COVID-19 pandemic, where international initiatives like COVAX were driven by coalitions of countries rather than the UN itself.
Jaishankar’s comments come at a time when two significant conflicts, the war in Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East have raised questions about the UN’s role in global diplomacy. According to the Minister, the UN has been largely inactive in both conflicts, prompting nations to find their own solutions.
#WATCH | Delhi: At Kautilya Economic Conclave, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says “The United Nations is like an old company, not entirely keeping up with the market, but occupying the space…What you have today is, yes, there is a UN. At the end of the day, however suboptimal it is in… pic.twitter.com/2welMcSJ1f
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) October 6, 2024
Discussing the Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar highlighted India’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the warring parties. He pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin as evidence of India’s unique position as a neutral player.
“PM Modi is one of the few leaders who today has the ability to go to Kyiv and Moscow and talk to the two leaders and see what are there common points, is there something we can start or is there some convergence,” Jaishankar noted.
Turning to the Middle East, Jaishankar underscored the importance of accountability, calling on conflict-ridden states to take responsibility for the region’s instability. He hinted at India’s quiet diplomacy in the area, revealing that India has often facilitated communication between countries that otherwise refuse to engage with one another.
“It’s not that we have been uninvolved. At various times we have played some role in communication between countries who don’t communicate with each other,” Jaishankar said.
The External Affairs Minister also emphasized India’s growing leadership role in representing the Global South. He pointed out that countries from the Global South, feeling the brunt of economic and societal stress, are looking to nations like India for support and advocacy on the global stage. Jaishankar noted that India’s efforts were well-received at the UN and that the country is increasingly seen as having a greater sense of responsibility towards global governance.
#WATCH | Delhi: At Kautilya Economic Conclave, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says “In respect of Ukraine, in the last few months, PM Modi met President Zelenskyy thrice. He met Russian President Putin once. He’s spoken to him more often and the NSA and myself, we’ve been in touch. The… pic.twitter.com/SMfHoE2Zyq
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) October 6, 2024
