India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar didn’t mince words at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, labeling Pakistan the “epicentre of global terrorism.” Speaking to world leaders on Saturday, Jaishankar stressed that India has every right to protect its citizens from terror threats. He pointed to the brutal April attack in Pahalgam, where innocent tourists lost their lives in a Pakistan-sponsored assault.
Jaishankar reminded everyone that India has battled this menace since gaining independence, with a neighbor at the heart of it for decades. He noted how many major international terrorist incidents link back to that country, and the UN’s own terrorist watchlists are packed with its nationals. “India stepped up to defend its people and held the organizers and attackers accountable,” he said firmly.
Shifting gears to global trade woes, Jaishankar highlighted the push for “de-risking” as countries grapple with shaky supply chains and over-reliance on single markets. Without directly naming the United States, he called out tariff volatility and unpredictable market access as major headaches. “Non-market tricks have bent the rules, leading to dangerous dependencies that the world can’t afford,” he explained. This comes at a time when rising protectionism threatens fair trade.
Just a day earlier, India hosted a key meeting of BRICS foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN gathering. Jaishankar urged the group—now with 10 members from the Global South—to stand up for the multilateral trading system. “With protectionism on the rise, tariff swings, and sneaky non-tariff barriers messing with trade flows, BRICS needs to fight back,” he said on Friday.
The timing feels pointed. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned BRICS nations of extra tariffs just for joining the bloc. He’s already slapped 50% tariffs on India and Brazil, and 30% on most South African imports, citing various reasons. For India, half of that 50% stems from buying Russian oil, sparking tensions. But there’s hope: bilateral talks for a trade deal have restarted after a short break.
In a 16-page joint statement, the BRICS ministers raised alarms over the spread of trade barriers like steep tariffs and other restrictions. They slammed these moves as rule-breakers that could splinter global trade and sideline developing nations like those in the Global South.
Jaishankar met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday during the UN sessions. Rubio called India a “critical” partner and praised the ongoing trade talks. Jaishankar shared on X (formerly Twitter): “We discussed key bilateral and global issues. We both agreed to keep the momentum going on our top priorities.”
Meanwhile, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal chatted with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, committing to more dialogue to smooth things out. As nations navigate these trade turbulence and security challenges, eyes are on how India and its allies push for a more stable world order.
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